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WAR DEPARTMENT : : OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 

SPECIAL REPORT OF 

J. M. DICKINSON 

SECRETARY OF WAR 
TO THE PRESIDENT 

ON 

THE PHILIPPINES 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1910 



WAR DEPARTMENT : : OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 



SPECIAL REPORT OF 

J. M. DICKINSON 

SECRETARY OF WAR 
TO THE PRESIDENT 

ON 

THE PHILIPPINES 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1910 



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Sb"^' 



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CO-NTENTS. 



Page. 

Itinerary 5 

Inspections 6 

^ Piiilippine independence 6 

< Law and order '- 9 

Legislative Assembly 10 

Education 11 

Philippine Constabulary 12 

Friar lands : 13 

Filipinizatiou of the public service 17 

Percentage of American and Filipino employees 18 

Artesian wells 19 

Animal diseases 19 

Rinderpest 19 

Surra : 20 

Roads - 20 

Lepers 20 

Lands in Manila occupied for army purposes 21 

Penal Institutions 21 

Penal colony 21 

Prisons 23 

Financial condition 23 

Agricultural Bank 24 

Railroads 25 

Exports and imports 27 

Health and sanitation 28 

Coal 29 

Hotel , « 30 

Hospital in Manila 31 

Fodder .♦ 31 

Agricultural College 31 

Agricultural conditions 32 

Government of the Philippine Islands 33 

Recommendations 34 

Appendixes 35 

A. — List of petitions submitted to the Secretary of War during his visit to the 

Philippines and of the petitioners 37 

B. — Hearings before the Secretary of War, held in Marble Hall, Ayuntamiento, 

Manila, on September 1, 1910 41 

C. — Letter of the Nacionalista Party 60 

D. — Memorandum from both political parties 82 

E. — Message of the Popular Nacionalista League of the Philippines 86 

F. — Letter of Hon. Manuel Quezon 91 

G. — Statement of American and Filipino employees 92 

3 



SPECIAL PiEPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 



War Department, 

Washington, D. C, November ^3, 1910. 
Mr President: 

In pursuance of your direction I visited the Philippine Islands, 
sailing from San Francisco on the 28th day of June last and return- 
ing to Washington on the 7th day of November. 

I reached Manila on Sunday, the 24th day of July, 1910, and 
remained in the Islands until September 3, 1910. Of this time, I 
spent thirteen days in Manila, the remainder of the time being 
devoted to visiting various portions of the islands. My itinerary 
was substantially as follows: 

1910. 
July 24. Manila. 

25. Manila. 

26. Manila. 

27. Fort William McKinley and Manila. 

28. Inspection of Corregidor and Cavite, returning in evening to Manila. 

29. Manila, leaving about midnight by boat for Olongapo. 

30. Inspection of Olongapo and Subic Bay, leaving in afternoon by boat for 

Tagudin. 

31. Overland trip by horse from Tagudin to Cervantes. 
Aug. 1. Overland trip by horse from Cervantes to Bontoc. 

2. Bontoc. 

3. Overland trip by horse from Bontoc to Cervantes. 

4. Overland trip by horse from Cervantes to Tagudin; leaving Tagudin in even- 

ing by boat for San Fabian. 

5. Arrived in early morning at San Fabian; train from San Fabian to Camp 

Number One; automobile from San Fabian to Baguio, arriving at Baguio 
before luncheon. 

6. Baguio; Camp John Hay. 

7. Baguio and vicinity; Mirador Observatory; Stock Farm. 

8. Left Baguio about 8.30 a. m.; automobile to Camp Number One; automo- 

bile inspection of Province of Pangasinan; inauguration of two bridges 
at Dagupan and trade school at Lingayen; spent night at Lingayen. 

9. Left Lingayen by automobile early morning of Aug. 9; arriving at Dagupan, 

took train, returning to Manila, stopping en route at San Fernando, Prov- 
ince of Pampanga, and Camp Stotsenberg. 

10. Manila. 

11. Manila. 

12. Manila. 

13. Manila, leaving by boat about midnight for southern trip. 

14. Arrived in afternoon at Lucena, spending night there. 

15. Morning; by automobile to Antimonan, stopping short time for reception 

and leaving same day by boat for Tabaco. 

16. Tabaco to Legaspi by automobile; inspection of Batan coal mine. Island of 

Batan; return to Legaspi and Albay; afternoon and evening at Albay; left 
same night for Catbalogan, by boat. 

17. Arrived Catbalogan afternoon, short stop; left by boat for Cebu. 

18. Arrived in morning at Cebu; afternoon, inspection of railroad to Danao, 

returning by automobile; spent night in Cebu. 

19. Cebu; inspection of railroad to Argao, returning by train to Cebu; left Cebu 

for Camp Overton. 

5 



6 SPECIAL EEPOET OF THE SECEETAKY OF WAE. 

1910. 
Aug. 20. Arrived in morning at Camp Overton; started on overland trip to Malabang, 
inspecting Camp Keithley and spending night there. 

21. Continued trip to Malabang, spending night there. 

22. Left Malabang; trip by boat up Cotabato River to town of Cotabato; even- 

ing, left for Zamboanga. 

23. Arrived on morning of August 23 at Zamboanga; left about midnight for 

Jolo. 

24. Arrived at Jolo in morning; spent day there; left Jolo for Puerto Princesa. 

26. Arrived in morning at Puerto Princesa; inspection of army post; trip up 

Iwahig River to Iwahig Penal Colony; evening left Puer-to Princesa for 
Iloilo. 

27. Arrived in evening at Iloilo; spent night there. 

28. Iloilo; left Iloilo about noon for Capiz, arriving in Capiz in evening; left 

Capiz about midnight for Manila. 

29. At sea. 

30. Arrived in morning at Manila. 

31. Manila and visit to Los Baiios. 
Sept. 1. Manila. 

2. Manila. 

3. Sailed from Manila about 5 o'clock a. m. 

Practically all of the public institutions at places visited by me 
were examined. I went into the details of administration with as 
much care as the time permitted. Both in public and private audi- 
ences, opportunities were given everywhere to all who desired to 
freely discuss any questions with me. Several public hearings were 
held by previous announcement in Manila and all were free to attend. 
At all points visited, the army posts were inspected. I gave special 
attention to Corregidor and its defenses, spending a day there. In 
all that I said, both publicly and privately, I held steadily in view 
the statement made by you to the President in your special report of 
January 23, 1908, that— 

the national policy is to govern the Philippine Islands for the benefit and welfare and 
uplifting of the people of the islands and gradually to extend to them, as they shall 
show themselves fit to exercise it, a greater and greater measure of popular self-govern- 
ment. 

The work of preparing the Filipinos for popular self-government is 
steadily progressing along the lines which have been approved by you. 
I shall refer more particularly to the various kinds of administrative 
work, but will here say that the administration of the various depart- 
ments is in a generally satisfactory condition, and that the best 
results are being attained with the means at hand and under the con- 
ditions that must be contended with. 

On the whole I believe that the administration of the islands is 
such that it should give satisfaction to the American people. 

PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE. 

In your report above referred to you say (p. 7) : 

What should be emphasized in the statement of our national policy is that we wish 
to prepare the Filipinos for popular self-government. This is plain from Mr. 
McKinley's letter of instructions and all of his utterances. It was not at all within 
his purpose or that of the Congress which made his letter part of the law of the land that 
we were merely to await the organization of a Philippine oligarchy or aristiocracy com- 
petent to administer government and then turn the islands over to it. On the contrary, 
it is plain, from all of Mr. McKinley's utterances and your own, in interpretation of 
our national purpose, that we are the trustees and guardians of the whole Filipino 
people, and peculiarly of the ignorant masses, and that our trust is not discharged until 
those masses are given education sufficient to know their civil rights and maintain them 
against a more powerful class and safely to exercise the political franchise. 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR, 7 

You also stated (p. 8) : 

Another logical deduction from the main proposition is that when the Filipino people 
as a whole show themselves reasonably fit to conduct a popular self-government, main- 
taining law and order and offering equal protection of the laws and civil lights to lich 
and poor, and desire complete independence of the United States, they shall be given 
it. The standard set, of course, is not that of perfection or such a governmental capa- 
city as that of an Anglo-Saxon people, but it certainly ought to be one of such popular 
political capacity that complete independence in its exercise will result in progress 
rather than retrogiession to chaos or tyranny. 

By the standard thus laid down, the Filipino people are substan- 
tially in the same attitude as when you visited them in 1907. Training 
in administrative work and education is doing much, but they have 
affected such a small percentage of the population that the change is 
hardly sensible. 

The results will manifest themselves in a rapidly increasing ratio 
when those who are now being educated reach an age when their 
influence can be felt in public life. There are very many highly 
educated Filipinos, many men of talent, ability, and brilliancy, but the 
percentage; in comparison with those who are wholly untrained in an 
understanding of, and the exercise of, political rights under a republican 
form of government is so small, and under the best and most rapid 
development possible under existmg conditions will for a long period 
continue so small that it is a delusion, if the present policy of control 
of the islands by the American people shall continue, to encourage 
the Filipino people in the hope that the administration of the islands 
will be turned over to them within the time of the present generation. 
The only inhabitants of the islands that are making any marked prog- 
ress in preparation for self-government are the Filipmos proper, and, 
as stated, but a small percentage of these are sufficiently educated 
to understand and administer republican institutions. The masses 
of them have no knowledge or conception of self-government, take 
no real interest in and have no knowledge of general administration, 
and are under the control of leaders whose will is practicalh" their law. 

Caciquism, i. e., local "bossism," is just as potential now as ever. 

A keen interest is manifested in education and the people cheer- 
fully submit to the burden of taxation imposed, both for general 
education and for manual training. It can not, however, be expected 
that mere education in schools will give that training to a people 
which is necessary for sustaining the fabric of a constitutional govern- 
ment. Ihe Filipino people proper present the most encouraging 
phase of the question. Tney constitute about 91 per cent of the entire 
population of the islands. Of the remaining population, about 40 
per cent are wild tribes who inhabit northern Luzon. These people 
have absolutely no conception of government except that of force, 
to which, if justly admmistered, they cheerfully submit. Until 
recently many of them were headhunters, and now they are only 
restrained from savage practices by military control. It is more than 
doubtful if any kind of training will make them capable, as a mass, 
of intelligently participating in the administration of self-government. 
Certainl}^ no such transformation can be expected, under the most 
favorable conditions, within a century. 

If the withdrawal by the United States from the administration 
of political affairs of the Filipinos shall be postponed until these people 
are fit for participation in self-government, then the time therefor 
will necessarily be in the very remote future, if it shall ever arrive. 



8 SPECIAL REPORT OP THE SECEETAEY OP WAR. 

My judgment is that if the masses of the Filipino people shall attain 
to that degree of fitness that will warrant the turning over to them 
of political autonom}^/ they can be entrusted to take over the control 
of these wild tribes, and that the realization of their own political 
independence should not be substantially retarded by having their 
political fate linked with people so backward, and comparatively so 
small in number, inhabiting the same island with them. 

The Moro Province presents greater difficult}". There are about 
500,000 Moros and Pagans living in the area confined geographically 
to the Sulu group, the Lake Lanao Basin, the Kio Grande Valley, and 
inhabiting numerous points near the mouths of small rivers and in 
protected bays along the coast line of the Zamboanga peninsula 
and the southern coast of Mindanao, reaching to the Gulf of Davao. 
In this area, principally in the vicinity of Zamboanga and Dapitan, 
with small villages at Iligan, Jolo, Cotabato, Davao, Caraga, Baganga, 
and Cateel, there are about 50,000 Christian Filipinos, many of whom 
have gone there in recent years. The Moros „are Mohammedans, and 
are firmly fixed in their religious belief. They are warlike, manly, 
independent, and have a strong hostility for the Filipinos. They 
have no conception of a republican form of government. The only 
government which they know is autocratic. They are peaceful now, 
because they have been subjected to military pov/er and are con- 
trolled with fhmness and justice, which they appreciate. The main 
province of our army among the Moros is merely to keep the peace 
among them. They would have to be essentially re-created to make 
of them an integral governing part of a republican government uniting 
them with the Filipinos. If Filipino independence is to be postponed 
until such a condition can be brought about, then its realization is 
so remote as to make it not worth whUe now being contemplated. 
If, on the other hand, a separate government for and by the Moros 
be erected, it is certain that it would be but a short time before they 
would be taken by some other nation unless the United States 
should extend its protectorate over them. 

Advantage was taken of the announcement of my coming by poli- 
ticians, through the press and in other ways, to stimulate a general 
demand for immediate independence. The impression was made upon 
the minds of many of the masses that the Secretary of War had either 
the power to grant immediate independence or that recommendations 
made by him would result in the granting of immediate independence. 
In Manila and throughout my journey wherever Filipinos were 
established in any numbers, the result of this teaching was made 
manifest by the erection of numerous arches with inscriptions, either 
asking or demanding independence, some of them using the term 
"immediate independence," and by the speeches of the orators and 
the presentation of petitions and letters. The similarity in the move- 
ments everywhere and the form of expression indicated very clearly 
that a concerted campaign had been made to elicit such demonstra- 
tions. I do not mean by this to indicate that these were not expo- 
nents of their genuine feeling, for the nature of our relations to the 
Philippines and our purpose in respect to them as defined in all 
authoritative utterances are not only compatible with, but a 
stimulant to, the growth of such sentiments. The significant and 
questionable feature was that stirring up the people to such demon- 
strations was calculated to engender expectations as to immediate 



SPECIAL REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP WAR, 9 

independence which would certainly be disappointed, and thereby 
result in discontent with the present administration of affairs, and 
operate as an encouragement to those who are sowing the seeds of 
discord between the American Government and the Filipino people, 
, all of which tends to retard the development for which we are striving. 

Inasmuch as I promised all who addressed communications to me 
on the subject of Philippine independence and other matters of a public 
nature to bring their views and wishes directly to your attention, I 
append herewith a list, marked "Appendix A," setting forth the 
names of the petitioners and the subjects of the petitions. 

I also append the report, marked "Appendix B," of the public 
hearing at Manila in the Marble Hall of the Ayuntamiento, on Sep- 
tember 1, 1910, which was largely attended and attracted much 
notice in the public prints. 

Inasmuch as they are not merely expressions of personal views, but 
are authoritative expressions of the two political parties in the Phil- 
ippines, I call your special attention to the memorials of the Naciona- 
lista, of the Nacionalista and Progresista parties, and of the popular 
Nacionalista League, attached hereto and marked Appendixes "C, " 
"D," and "E," respectively. 

There is no doubt that so far as publicly expressed, the general 
desire of the Filipinos is for what they denominate "immediate 
independence." 

Those who are intelligent do not expect immediate independence, 
even if their views should be acceded to on the part of the American 
people, but rather that steps shall be taken as early as practicable 
which will result in the near future in turning over to the Philippine 
people the administration of their own affairs. While, as stated, these 
are the only views publicly expressed, I became convinced from reliable 
evidence that many of the most substantial men, while not openly 
opposing the demands publicly voiced, would regard such a consum- 
mation with consternation. They realize that the government would 
fall into the hands of a few who would dominate the masses, that the 
administration, even without outside interference, could not be suc- 
cessfully carried on, that there would be internal dissensions and 
probably civil war, and that if the United States did not interfere 
they would fall an easy prey to some foreign power. 

I took prompt steps to undeceive, so far as I could, those who had 
formed a misapprehension either as to my power or mission, and 
reiterated in public speeches that the future relations between the 
Philippines and the United States would be determined by Congress, 
and that there had been no authoritative departure from the doc- 
trines laid down by you in your utterances upon that subject when 
Secretar}' of War.- 

LAW AND ORDER. 

At the present writing peace, law, and order prevail throughout 
the islands. There is no organized opposition anywhere to the 
United States Government. Within the last year only two out- 
breaks have occurred, and they were insignificaiit. In the island of 
Palawan some Moros had been lawless, and Governor Miller, now 
deceased, had notified them that they must surrender. After the 
unfortunate drowning of Governor Miller, Commissioner Worcester 
went to the island and he and his party were met as friends and after- 



10 SPECIAL REPORT OE THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 

wards were treacherously attacked by these Moros. The attack 
was repelled, resulting in the death of 10 Moros. A number of these 
people were fugitives from justice from Mindanao and Borneo. There 
was no general outbreak. 

While I was in Ma,nila, Mandac, who had been con^"icted of killing 
and fled the country, forfeiting his bond, returned to the islands and 
went to the Province of Nueva Vizcaya and captured the town of So- 
lano, looted the treasury, and carried off several priests. There was a 
slight engagement with the constabulary and his forces^ were routed. 
He himself was captured by the natives and turned over to the 
authorities, which is an evidence of good will on the part of the people 
toward the government. 

The ladrones or robber bands are almost if not entirely suppressed. 
One of their leaders, Felipe Salvador, was captured while I was in 
Manila. His followers had long since deserted him and he was a 
fugitive from justice. 

There is no disorder at present in the northern provinces. At 
BontoG, the headhunting tribes, who a year ago were engaged in taking 
heads, met together while I was there, in a parade and general fes- 
tivities. There have been no hostilities between these people within 
the last year. I talked with the chief men and they expressed them- 
selves as satisfied with the administration of the governors of these 
provinces. Now that they feel safe in their lives and property they 
are devoting themselves with a feeling of security to agriculture and 
are enjoying more of the comforts of life than at any previous time. 
Substantially the same state of peace prevails in the Mountain and the 
Moro Provinces, containing the non-Christian tribes, and the same 
content with the government. All of these wild people have found 
out that the United States are not exploiting them, but that every- 
thing that is done in the way of control results to their immediate 
benefit, and that what is exacted from them in taxation is spent in 
their midst for roads, educational and other public purposes, the 
result of which they see and appreciate. 

THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. 

Although the Legislative Assembly is controlled by the Nacional- 
ista Party, which was organized in opposition to those who favored 
American control, and it was anticipated that they would use their 
power to obstruct administration, the result has demonstrated that 
responsiMlity steadies action. So far from raising captious oppo- 
sition, they have enacted laws for the promotion of development and 
progress along the lines advocated by the Governor-General. They 
have leen literal in their support of education and. internal improve- 
ments. 

Laws on the following subjects were passed at the last session of 
the Philippine legislature : 

To transfer the bureau of agriculture from the department of the interior to that of 
public instruction. 

To increase the approisriation for current expenses of the bureau of education for 
the fiscal year 1910, and appropriating !P150,000 therefor. 

To provide for the construction of barrio schools upon public lands or lands of the 
municipal, provincial, or insular government, and to. prohibit their sale or use for 
other than school purposes. 



SPECIAL EEPOET OF THE SECEETARY OF WAE. 11 

To establish classes for the instruction and training of male and female nurses under 
the supervision of the director of health. 

To extend to ten years the period during which timber, firewood, resin, stone, 
earth, and other forest products may be cut or taken from the public forests without 
the payment of forestry charges. 

To provide for the filing with the executive bureau of the first deed of trust, dated 
May 19, 1909, executed by the Manila Railroad Company in favor of the government of 
the Philippine Islands, and subordinating agreements, and exempting said instru- 
ments from payment of stamp taxes. 

To fix the annual tax on the assessed value of the real estate of the city of Manila 
for 1910 at l.i per cent. 

To amend the "provincial government act" by further extending the powers of 
provincial governments. 

To create a commissioned and enlisted service within the bureau of navigation, the 
creation of a pension fund in connection therewith, and for the punishment of offenses 
against good order and discipline within such service. 
' To establish a sanitarium at Sibul, Province of Bulacan. 

To provide for the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the birth of Dr. Jose 
Rizal. 

To authorize the appointment of high-school students as government pupils while 
pursuing a course of training for teaching. 

To authorize the creation of special classes of superior instruction for municipal or 
insular teachers. 

To amend the "postal savings bank" act by providing an additional class of securi- 
ties for the investment of postal savings bank funds. 

To confirm the action of the Governor-General in deporting from the islands certain 
persons of Chinese nationality. 

To appropriate funds for sundry expenses of the University of the Philippines during 
fiscal year 1911. 

To make appropriations for public works and permanent improvements. 

To make appropriations for sundry expenses of the insular government for the fiscal 
year 1911. 

To amend the act providing for the widening of streets in the municipality of Cebu. 

To appropriate ?°50,000 for the relief of suffering from public calamities. 

Only 2 of the 22 measures proposed by the administration were 
rejected. 

While there were differences in the views of the Assembly and the 
Governor upon important questions, they did not result in any 
political impasse, and the administration has proceeded without 
obstruction in any of its branches. 

Nineteen bills were presented to the Commission by the Assembly. 
Sixteen were approved, one was postponed until the regular session, 
one, referring to non-Christian provinces, and therefore not coming 
within the jurisdiction of the Assembly, was tabled at that session 
and is now up for passage by the Commission, and one providing for 
the remission of land and cedula taxes under certain conditions was 
refused passage. 

I found that while the leaders of the Nacionalistas are constant and 
insistent in their demands for immediate independence and are con- 
stantly stimulating the masses to make declarations which are intol- 
erant of the American administration, yet at the same time they are 
pursuing a broad and enlightened policy in respect of education, in- 
ternal improvements, and general development. 

EDUCATION. 

The schools were visited by me wherever I went. At a number of 
places handsome, modern, well equipped, well lighted, and well aired, 
substantial buildings of reenforced concrete have been erected, which 
would be a credit to communities of like number in America. A very 



12 SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 

deep and mdespread interest is teing manifested in education on the 
part of old and young. Children are taking a keen interest in their 
work. Those upon whom taxes for education are imposed cheer- 
fully bear the burden, and so far from being in opposition to increas- 
ing the facilities for education, they heartily cooperate in the plans 
for extension. The children are making good progress in learning 
the English language. 

In an audience at Capiz, where addresses were made in Spanish and 
English, it was manifest that English speakers were as well under- 
stood as were those who spoke in Spanish. I sought to impress upon 
the Philippine people that in no way could the American people take 
more effective steps for laying the foundations for independent gov- 
ernment than by giving them a common language. They now have 
about sixteen different Malay dialects, and while Spanish is spoken 
among the educated it is confined to approximately 10 per cent of 
the entire population, and notwithstanding its long use in the islands 
has never become the medium of general communication. With the 
progress now being made, English will be understood by the next 
generation generally throughout the islands, and with this common 
means of speech will come a community of thought and action which 
could not be brought about in any other way. 

The present law requires the use of Enghsh in the courts on and 
after January 1, 1913. I believe that it would be beneficial to the 
progress of the islands if speaking the English language should, on a 
date not long thereafter, be made a condition precedent to the right 
to hold any office filled by appointment by the Governor-Geners,!. 

THE PHILIPPINE CONSTABULARY. 

This is a useful and effective body of men now consisting of 322 
officers and 4,451 enlisted men operating from 138 stations. The 
commissioned officers are generally Americans, but a number of Fili- 
pinos are also officers, and the policy is to fill vacancies by their appoint- 
ment as rapidly as they meet the requirements. They are maintained 
much more cheaply than our American soldiers or Philippine Scouts. 
Their pay is less, their outfit more economical, and they subsist upon 
the country, thus saving the enormous cost of transporta,tion incident 
to supplying the army. 

Besides serving as a military force to keep order and suppress insur- 
rection they are very efficient as auxiliaries in sanitary work, espe- 
cially during epidemics. Although they do not receive the same 
amount of training and military discipline which the scouts do, yet 
they are, looking especially to their availability for sanitary work, of 
greater utility than the scouts. I am considering recommending the 
conversion of the scouts and constabulary into one body, the work to 
be substantially that now done by the constabulary. My present 
opinion is that this will result in a saving to the United States Gov- 
ernment of about a million dollars a year and that the results achieved 
will on the whole be more valuable than will be brought about by 
maintaining separate organizations. The general idea is to muster 
out the scouts and turn over to the Philippine government enough 
mone}^ to maintain an equal number of men as constabulary, the 
whole constabulary force to be somewhat upon the footing of the 
national guards of the States. It has been roughly estimated that 
the amount which would be thus turned over to the Philippine gov- 



SPECIAL KEPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 13 

ernment would be less by a million dollars than the amount now 
expended by the United States for the maintenance of the scouts. 

In your report to the President you stated that when you were in 
the islands the native papers condemned the constabular}^, but that 
during the two following years a change had taken place and that 
nothing was more popular in the islands than the constabulary. I am 
happy to say that this popularity is unabated, and that the constabu- 
lary and its administration are well intrenched in the respect and 
confidence of the people. The men and the native noncommissioned 
officers take great pride in their organization. They are well set up, 
efficient, keen in their work, and would be an effective force in case 
of foreign invasion. They conciliate constantly the people toward 
the administration, are learning the English language and habits, and 
thus are the medium of wholesome influences upon their people. I 
asked one of them in the Bontoc country whether or not he would 
stand by our flag in case of trouble mth'a foreign power. He 
answered : 

Do" you think I would hesitate to do that? Did I not recently in the discharge of 
my duty when ordered, fire upon and kill one of my own townsmen who was defying 
the enforcement of the law? 

FBIAR LANDS. 

Much notoriety has been given in Congress and in the public press 
to recent sales of the friar lands. These lands amounted in all to 
392,000 acres. Of these 260,000 are near Manila, 25,000 are in Cebu, 
and 107,000 are in the provinces of Mindoro and Isabela. Six million 
nine hundred and thirty thousand four hundred and sixty-two dollars 
and seventy cents were paid for the lands, and the price was considered 
large. It was anticipated at the time that in disposing of them there 
would be loss to the Government. The purchase was made, not as a 
speculation nor for the purpose of distributing the lands, but as stated 
by you in your report, "on political grounds and for the purpose of 
bringing on tranquillity." 

The question of distribution was only incidental to the sale and 
reimbursement. The main reason for the purchase was to eliminate 
the friars as landholders. Inasmuch as the Philippine government 
had burdened itself with a bonded debt drawing interest to get rid of 
these pernicious landholders, it seemed perfectly plain that it would 
be following the dictates of common sense to dispose of the unoccupied 
lands as soon as possible on the most advantageous terms. When the 
proposal was made to purchase the Mindoro estate at a figure fully 
reimbursing the government for the cost of the land, with interest and 
cost of survej'- and administration added, I could see no good reason 
why the sale should not be made. I shall not go into the question of 
the legality of the sale. The opinion of the Attorney-General certainly 
was sufficient to warrant the administration in making the sale. The 
island of Mindoro contains 3,851 square miles and 28,361 inhabitants, 
which is less than 8 persons to the square mile. It is practically unde- 
veloped. There was no demand by any inhabitants there for these 
lands. It is not probable that they would have been taken up by any 
inhabitants at any time iit the near future. There are hundreds of 
thousands of other acres of wild lands in the island of Mindoro just 
as valuable and fully as capable of being used for the culture of cane 
as are these lands. Lands can be gotten there from the government 



14 SPECIAL KEPOET OF THE SECEETARY OF WAR. 

for a price cheaper than that paid for the Mindoro estate. There are 
over 20,000,000 acres of pubhc lands fit for agricuUure in the islands 
and inducements upon the most favorable terms are offered to the 
inhabitants to take them up. 

Unless the Mindoro estate had been sold as a whole to people 
capable of handling and developing it, it is not probable that the 
lands could have been disposed of at any time in the near future. At 
the rate of interest the bonds draw, the cost of the lands would in 
thirty years, when the bonds mature, have represented more than 
treble the original cost. The Philippine government needs its 
resources for internal improvements, and it would have been poor 
financiering to pay interest on the bonds and finally the principal and 
continue to hold these lands until they would be taken up by inhabit- 
ants of the islands, which would mean in the remote future. 

The main opposition to the sale of these friar lands in large lodies 
in the Philippines is based upon opposition to the investment of any 
foreign capital, and especially American capital, in the islands. The 
opinion is held by those who mainl}^ voice this opposition that the 
investing of foreign capital, and especially American capital, in the 
Philippines will in time develop such a demand for the continuance of 
American control as will tend to postpone, if not effectually destroy, 
the realization of Philippine independence. 

The thought is that the power so exerted would be sufficient 
to dominate Congress and make the American people change the 
policy hitherto declared "to govern the Philippine Islands for the 
benefit and welfare and uplifting of the people of the islands and 
gradually to extend to them, as they shall show themselves fit to 
exercise it, a greater and greater measure of popular self-govern- 
ment," * * * a^j^j "that when the Filipino people as a whole 
show themselves reasonably fit to conduct a popular self-government, 
maintaining law and order and o.Tering equal protection of the laws 
and civil rights to rich and poor, and desire complete independence 
of the United States, thej^ shall be given it." 

Inasmuch as the charges publicly made in Congress and in the 
public prints involved, besides the general question of sale, the con- 
duct of certain officers in the Philippines, I made an investigation in 
respect to these, feeling that I had a duty to perform independent of 
any action of Congress, and that if these officers had been guilt}'' of 
any misconduct it was not only the right but the duty of the admin- 
istration to deal with them without waiting for congressional action. 
These charges involved F. W. Carpenter, Executive Secretary, and 
Dean C. Worcester, one of the Commissioners. I called upon Gov- 
ernor-General Forbes, Mr. Carpenter, and Mr. Worcester for a state- 
ment of the facts, and sought in other ways, and especially by calling 
on Filipinos who were opposed to the sale of the Mindoro and Isabela 
estates, for information as to any official misconduct on the part 
of either Mr. Worcester or Mr. Carpenter. 

I learned nothing whatever detrimental to the character of either 
of these men. I found that there was considerable opposition to Mr. 
Worcester, growing mainly out of an abruptness of manner in official 
relations. In this way he had offended some people and aroused 
their opposition. Several of such people spoke to me of this, but upon 
being asked the direct question they said that they knew of nothing 
affecting the integrity of his action. 



SPECIAL, EEPOET OF THE SECEETARY OF WAR. 15 

Ordinarily it is invidious to single out some officials for commenda- 
tion, but in view of the attack which has been made upon these men, 
I feel that it is right to give the result of my inquiry. 

I refrained from any close association with, and reserved judgment 
as to, them, until I had exhausted all sources of information. Based 
on all that I could learn, my judgment is that they are honest, faithful, 
capable men, devoted to their work, and that it would be a loss to the 
Government if anything should withdraw them from the public 
service. Mr. Worcester has a more general and more exact knowledge 
of the PhiHppine Islands, their fauna, flora, resources, and inhabit- 
ants, than any other man, without exception. He is a mine of useful 
and practical information, which he is constantl}^ turning to account 
for the benefit of the islands. Having a liberal education and a 
technical education, he has apphed himself with great industry and 
devotion to a study of the Phihppine Islands. He has seriously 
impaired his health in this work. V'v hile he has cultivated the fortiter 
in re, rather than the suaviter in modo, and thus has made for him- 
self opposition, the real good accomplished by him so far outweighs 
any ob.iections that might be raised to his somewhat aggressive 
ways, that the latter are far outweighed in the general account. 
Though not directly stated, the inference was drawn from the charges 
made that he as secretar}?^ of the interior had approved an unlawful 
sale of some of the friar lands to liis nephev,', E. L. Worcester. Mr. 
E. L. Worcester never purchased an acre of the friar lands. He 
did lease some public lands, but in the amount authorized by law 
and at the prices paid for such lands by other people. He had a 
right to lease these lands and his uncle had no right as secretary of 
the interior to deprive him of the right to lease them. I found no 
evidence that Secretary Worcester is interested directh^ or indirectly 
in these lands. He stated positively that lie was not. I did not hear 
anyone in the Philippines say that he was. When the application 
to lease these lands was made, the fact was brought to the attention 
of Governor Smith. There was no secrecy whatever about it. I 
found no complaint among Filipinos as to the lease of these lands. 
Their complaints applied to the sale of the friar lands, and especially 
the Isabela and Mindoro estates, but not to that part of the friar lands 
purchased by Mr. Carpenter. The purchase was made by Mr. Car- 
penter not only mth the knowledge but at the instance of the Gov- 
ernor-General. He paid the full price provided for under the law. 
He has not dispossessed any Filipino. On the contrary, after his 
contract was made, he permitted Filipinos to come in and participate 
in his purchase. None of his official duties were in any way connected 
with the administration or sale of these lands. I do not favor pubhc 
officials from America in the Philippines purchasing public lands, but 
I find that it has hitherto been the policy of the administration to 
encourage investments by employees in the islands. So far from 
finding any objections on the part of Filipinos to the purchase by 
Mr. Carpenter, everyone with whom I spoke in regard to it, and I 
spoke with many of the leading men, entirely approved of it. In 
such conversations they took occasion to voluntarily bear testimony 
to the high character and standing of Mr. Carpenter, their confidence 
in his integrity, his usefulness in the public service, and to the valu- 
able offices which he had performed in maintaining good relations 
between Filipinos and Americans. Upon the question of his pur- 



16 SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OP WAR. 

chase, I received a letter from Hon. Manuel Quezon, Resident Commis- 
sioner, as follows: 

Manila, August 12, 1910. 
Mr. Secretary: 

I have read carefully Mr. Frank W. Carpenter's reply to the allegations made against 
him in Congress recently in regard to the lease and purchase by him of friar lands, and, 
complying with your request for an expression of opinion as to the truth of Mr. Car- 
penter's statements, I beg to say that I am convinced that they are true. 

Furthermore, I beg to confirm all I have stated orally to you regarding the confidence 
and respect in which the Filipino people hold Mr. Carpenter, of&ially and personally. 
Respectfully yours, 

Manuel L. Quezon, 
Resident Commissioner to the United States for the Philippines. 
To the honorable the Secretary op War, 

Manila, P. I. 

The following letter from Mr. Osmena, the speaker of the Assem- 
bly, indicates Mr. Carpenter's standing with the Filipinos: 

The Government of the Philippine Islands, 
Office of the Speaker, Philippine Assembly, 

Manila, August SO, 1910. 
Sir: I have the honor of confirming, by the present, the information that, replying 
to your inquiries, I have personally given you with reference to the conduct, char- 
acter and reputation of Mr. Frank W. Carpenter, Executive Secretary. 

Mr. Carpenter enjoys the highest esteem and confidence among the Filipinos. As 
an ofiicial and as a gentleman he has responded at all times to the best hope? and 
while he has sustained, and does sustain now, close relations with the Filipinos, his 
conduct as an official may be presented as a model of intelligence, integrity and zeal. 
It is known of all that Mr. Carpenter devotes to public affairs time and attention 
much greater than are customarily given to such matters, not failing to work for a 
number of hours on legal holidays. His official bearing with all those who in whatever 
way have had any connection with his office has heightened the regard for him as a 
man of rare penetration and activity and have gained for him, and with reason, those 
active sympathies which beyond respect are given to persons who, on compliance 
with a duty, do it with the generous interest which can only be felt by those who, 
entirely devoted to their public offices, find a satisfaction in remembering that they 
are servants of the public and that they must conduct themselves as such. 

With respect to the public and private morality of Mr. Carpenter, I do not believe 
there is anyone, among Filipinos at least, that, has not the highest concept of him. 
Filipinos have complete confidence in Mr. Carpenter and his fruitful labor of the pres- 
ent, which can only be compared with his distinguished past service, constitutes a 
legitimate and elevated record of honesty, efficiency and patriotism. 
Permit me, Mr. Secretary, to be, 

Very respectfully, yours, Sergio Osmena, 

Speaker, Philippine Assembly. 
Hon. Jacob McG. Dickinson, 

Secretary of War. 

On January 1, 1910, Commissioner Worcester, secretary of the 
interior, approved the lease of approximately 47,000 acres of the 
Isabela estate, with option to purchase this estate, to Edward B. 
Bruce, of Manila. This estate consisted of approximately 49,500 acres. 
The sale price fixed was ^122,500, Philippine currency, together 
with interest thereon at the rate of 4 per cent per annum from and 
including the 1st day of January, 1910, the payment of the purchase 
price or installments thereof, together with all interests accruing 
thereon, to be made in accordance with the provisions of the friar- 
land act as amended. This sale price inckided the cost to the Govern- 
ment together with all charges for interest and administration. 

-This Isabela estate is one of the practically unoccupied estates pur- 
chased from the friars, and is situated in a sparsel}^ settled part of the 
center of the island of Luzon. 

At the time the contracts were made for sales in large amounts of 
these friar lands it was not supposed that objection would be raised 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 



17 



thereto. The idea was to handle this, in so far as these vacant lands 
were concerned, as a business proposition. 

In so much, however, as opposition has been declared and Congress 
has provided for an investigation of this matter, no more sales of 
these lands in large quantities will be authorized until the situation is 

cleared up. i t^ i. 

Reports covering this matter in full by Governor-General Forbes, 
Secretary of the Interior Worcester, and Executive Secretary Car- 
penter, have been prepared and submitted to me. These reports 
were printed in Manila. 

I also attach a letter (marked "AppendLx F") from Resident 
Commissioner Quezon, which gives concisely the prevailing Filipino 
view of the land question. 

FILIPINIZATION OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE. 

In your special report of 1908, under the heading "Civil service," 

you say: 

Still in many of the bureaus the progress of Filipinos to the most responsible places 
is necessarily slow and the proportion of them to be found in positions of high salaries 
is not as large as it ought to be in the near future. The winnowing out process, 
however, is steadily reducing the American employees in the civil service. 

One of the demands most urgently brought to my attention was 
that the work of increasing the proportion of the Filipino employees 
is not being pressed, and that, especially in the higher salaries, there 
is discrimination against Filipino employees. Ihe Fihpinos bear 
the burden of government and should, so far as is consistent with 
proper administration and the maintenance of the present attitude 
of the United States in the government of the islands, be given a 
preference in employment. While in the beginning and for a long 
while thereafter it was necessary to pay American emjiloyees such 
salaries as would induce them to leave their homes, go to a distant 
country and incur the inconvenience incident to life there, and 
while it was sound policy to pay higher salaries to American em] loyees, 
I see no reason why such course should be indefinitely continued. 
In my judgment the time has come when for the same efficiency 
and for the same class of work done by new employees salaries 
should be fixed for the ]Taces and they should be filled by competent 
persons without discrimination as between Fihpinos and Americans. 

In your special report in 1907 you showed that there were 2,616 
Americans and 3,902 Filipinos employed. On January 1, 1910, there 
were employed 2,633 Americans and 4,639 Filipinos. 

Below is a table showing a comparison of the number of American 
and Filipino officers and employees having a permanent status in 
the service and the salaries paid on January 1 of the years given: 



Year. 


Officers and 
employees. 


Salaries paid. 


Average salaries. 


Ameri- 
cans. 


Fili- 
pinos. 


Americans. 


Filipinos. 


Americans. 


Filipinos. 


1907.. . 


2,616 
2,479 
2,659 
2,633 


3,902 
4,080 
4.397 
4. 639 


r7, 869, 242 
7,749,236 
8,576,962 
8, 755, 486 


VS, 234, 494 
3,686,855 
4.018,988 
4,296,896 


F3, 008. 12 
3,125.95 
3,225.63 
3,325.29 


!P828.93 


1908 


903.64 


1909.. - . 


914.03 


1910 


926.25 







65874—10- 



18 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 



It will be seen that since 1907, when you made your special report, 
there has been, up to January 1, 1910, an increase of 17 in the number 
of American and of 737 in that of Filipino employees, and that 
there has been an increase of $443,122 in the amount paid American 
and of $531,201 in that paid to Filipino employees, an increase in the 
average salaries paid to Americans of $158.59 and in those to Filipinos 
of $48.66. 

The following table shows the percentage of American and Filipino 
employees and the percentage of salaries' paid to them for the 
years mentioned, and the increase and decrease in the number of 
Americans and Filipinos employed between the years 1903 and 1910, 
also the increase and decrease in the number of Americans and 
Filipinos employed in the years 1909 and 1910: 



Year. 


Employees. 


Salaries. 


Americans. 


Filipinos. 


Americans. 


Filipinos. 


1907 


Per cent. 
40 
38 
38 
36 


Per cent. 
60 
62 
62 

64 


Per cent. 
71 

68 
68 
67 


Per cent. 
29 


1908 


32 


1909 . 


32 


1910 


33 







1903-1910: Percent. 

Decrease in number of Americans 5.2 

Increase in number of Filipinos 72. 

Increase in salaries of Americans 21. 

Increase in salaries of Filipinos 96. 3 

Increase in average salaries of Americans 27. 6 

Increase in average salaries of Filipinos 14. 1 

1909-1910: 

Decrease in niunber of Americans 1. 

Increase in number of Filipinos ■ 5. 5 

Increase in salaries of Americans 2.1 

Increase in salaries of Filipinos 6. 9 

Increase in average salaries of Americans 3.1 

Increase m average salaries of Filipinos 1.3 

During the past year the Philippine government has called on the 
Chief of the Bureau of Insular Affairs to send out American stenog- 
raphers and deck officers. This demand might have been anticipated 
and Filipinos educated for both of these purposes, as they are exceed- 
ingly apt for both classes of service. The general question was taken 
up with the Governor-General and the heads of departments and 
bureaus. It is the fixed policy of the administration to proceed as 
rapidly as the good of the service will permit in increasing the Filipino 
employees, and I am satisfied that there will be a hearty cooperation 
upon the part of all. The Governor-General has always favored 
this course. 

I call special attention to the bureau of printing, which is operating 
all kinds of modern machines and is doing the highest class of work 
in printing and binding. In this department there are 348 employees 
of whom 318 are Filipinos. It is true that this, on account of the 
nature of the work, can not be taken as a standard for other depart- 
ments and bureaus. 

Within the last year it has been necessary to employ Americans 
on account of the requirement for experts to contend with the 
rinderpest and expert surveyors and engineers for public works. 

In the municipal service in the year 1910 there are 102 Americans 
and 12,417 Filipinos employed. 



SPECIAL EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 19 

I append as a part of my report a table, marked "Appendix G/' 
showing, for the several years set out, the number of Americans and 
Filipinos employed in the various services therein mentioned. 

Without a careful analysis of these tables one might get a false 
Impression of the extent to which the government of the islands has 
been Filipinized during the period covered by them. They show the 
increase of Filipinos in the civil service of the islands, but it should 
be observed that in the period covered by these tables the number of 
Filipino members of the Commission has been increased 33i per cent, 
the number of judges of first instance by 100 per cent, and there has 
been created the Philippine Assembly, an elective body composed 
exclusively of Filipinos. 

To-day four of the nine members of the Philippine Commission, 
which constitutes the upper house of the legislature, are Filipinos. 
The entire lower house is composed of Filipinos. In the executive 
departments the important portfolio of finance and justice is held by 
a Filipino. Three of the seven justices of the supreme court, includ- 
ing the chief justice thereof, are Filipinos, and ten of the twenty judges 
of first instance are Filipinos, while practically all the lower judicial 
officers are Filipinos. 

ARTESIAN WELLS. 

A wonderful change in health conditions has been brought about 
by the procurement of wholesome water through artesian wells. 
This work was in its inception when you were in the islands in 1907 
and has steadily progressed, until now there are in operation 429 
wells. A marked improvement has been showai in the health con- 
ditions where these waters have been used. The people everywhere 
appreciate them and are anxious for them. It seems that no, water 
can be found at Iloilo. A number of experiments there have failed. 

ANIMAL DISEASES. 
RINDERPEST. 

In many portions of the islands, especially in Batangas, Pangasinan, 
Cebu, and Occidental Negros, the industry of agriculture was almost 
prostrated through the loss of w^ork animals by rinderpest. A specific 
preventive by inoculation has been found effectual, and the disease 
is well under control. 

At the stock farm at Alabang a herd of about 900 cattle is main- 
tained under the care of experts. All have been inoculated and are 
immune against rinderpest, and sufficient serum is now constantly 
obtained for shipment wherever demanded throughout the islands. 
In addition to the annual appropriation, there was made in Novem- 
ber, 1909, a special appropriation of 210,000 pesos for this work. 
Too much can not be said in praise of the thoroughly scientific man- 
ner in which it is carried on. The results have been most gratifying, 
and by the arrestation of the disease, the natural increase of draft 
animals, and the importation from other countries which is being 
carried on under strict quarantine regulations, we can expect that 
within a year or two the supply of work animals will be adequate. 
Much more vigorous quarantine regulations obtain than formerly. 
It is now evident that the disease will be stamped out. 



20 SPECIAL EEPOET OP THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 



SURRA. 

This disease is fatal to horses. It attacks but does not kill cara- 
bao and Indian bulls. So far no cure for it except in rare cases has 
been discovered. Experiments are being made for the purpose of 
finding a remedy, and our experts are hopeful of ultimate success. 

ROADS. 

There has been a marked development in the disposition of the peo- 
ple throughout the islands to exert themselves and to assume tax 
burdens for the purpose of securing good roads. The provincial 
board of each province has decided to levy the cedula tax and to 
apply the proceeds to the construction and maintenance of roads. 
While there is a great contrast between the roads maintained by the 
municipalities and those maintained by the insular government, yet 
there has been in recent years an increase in the care bestowed by the 
municipal governments upon their roads. The caminero system has 
been established with good results. 

There are now in the islands 3,100 miles of roads under the admin- 
istration of municipalities, 862 miles of first class under control 
of the provinces and 46 miles under that of the insular government. 
The roads maintained by the provinces and insular government can 
generally be compared favorably with the good roads of any country, 
and some of them are as good as could be desired anywhere. This is 
especially true of the provinces of Pangasinan and Albay, the former 
having recently taken the prize of ^10,000 offered for the best con- 
structed and maintained roads. 

Many miles of mountain trails of easy grade have been constructed. 
I pa'ssed over the one from a point 5 miles from Tagudin to Bontoc, 
that portion from Cervantes to Bontoc being entirely new and just 
opened. While there is not much commerce to pass over these trails, 
as the people in those sections consume almost all that they produce, 
yet it may be expected that with the continuance of peace and the 
further development of agriculture there will be an increasing surplus 
put upon the market. 

These trails promote intercourse between people of the various 
sections and in that way have a civihzing influence. They afford a 
ready way for the movement of troops to sections hitherto almost 
inaccessible. The wild people have great respect for and attach a sort 
of sanctity to them, which is manifested by the fact that people passing 
over them are, I am told, never molested. The initial cost was com- 
paratively small, owing to the cheapness of the labor, all of which 
was performed by the wild men of the Mountain Province, many of 
whom gave ten days of free labor, and to the skill developed by those 
directing the work, but the maintenance on account of the torrential 
rains will probably be a constant and expensive burden. 

LEPERS. 

The work of segregating the lepers has proceeded to the point that 
now there are but few who have not been transported to the island of 
Culion. It is the opinion of Dr. Victor G. Heiser, who has this work 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 21 

in charge, that within a generation or two the disease will have prac- 
tically disappeared from the islands. There are at present about 
3,000 in the colony. But httle opposition is now made to the removal 
of those who are affected with the disease. While this brings distress, 
it is nevertheless generally recognized that it is for the common good 
and that those who have the misfortune to be afflicted must bear the 
sacrifice which fate has forced upon them. 

A large up-to-date hospital of reenforced concrete has just been 
completed. Six Sisters of Charity have devoted themselves to the 
work of nursing. Apparent cures have been effected by the use of 
chaulmoogra oil, and it is hoped that it will be demonstrated to be a 
specific. 

LANDS IN MANILA OCCUPIED FOR ARMY PURPOSES. 

There is a controversy of long standing between military and civil 
authorities in regard to the use of certain property for army purposes 
in Manila. It appears that a basis of settlement was reached some 
years ago that was then regarded as mutually acceptable, but it was 
not put in such form as to be binding and has never been consummated. 

There should be an early and final adjustment of this matter, for 
it seriously affects the development of the city of Manila and involves 
the determination of a pohcy in regard to the army establishment at 
Manila. As some of the proposed changes will require the surrender 
by the army of buildings which it now uses, these can not be effected 
until provision has been made for other accommodations, and this 
will require the construction of buildings at large cost, and therefore 
congressional action. The Governor-General, representing the civil 
government, and General Duvall, representing the army, presented 
their respective views. As to some important points there is agree- 
ment, providing Congress shall provide the necessary buildings. As 
to other points there are differences which must be settled by higher 
authority. The papers are too voluminous to incorporate in this 
report. After going over the questions with the Chief of Staff, who 
is familiar with the conditions there, I will present a plan of settle- 
ment embodying such provisions as may require congressional action. 

I carefully examined the various properties in person — first in com- 
pany with the Governor- General and afterwards in company with 
General Duvall — and am therefore in position to form my own judg- 
ment in regard to them. 

PENAL INSTITUTIONS. 
PENAL COLONY. 

A visit was made by me to the penal colony at Iwahig, on the island 
of Palawan. Though an audacious experiment, it has in the results 
attained fully justified the expectations of the wise forecast that 
inaugurated it. It is one of the most interesting and attractive 
places in the islands. The spectacle of some thousand criminals 
living together on a penal reservation of 270 square miles in peace 
and carrying on industrial and agricultural pursuits under an admin- 
istration largely controlled by themselves is wonderful. The con- 



22 SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 

victs there are those who have earned the privilege of going there by 
good behavior at Bihbid during a certain period. 

The administration is under Governor John H. Evans and the 
immediate superintendency of Carroll H. Lamb. Discipline is 
administered by the convicts themselves, who elect their own judges 
and make their own laws. In their jury trials a majority convict. 
The superintendent has a right to veto any measure. Lawbreakers 
are flogged or locked up, or, in extreme cases, sent back to Bilibid, this 
latter being regarded as the most severe punishment. 

The grounds are beautifully laid out and are adorned with orna- 
mental flowers and plants, all of the work being done by the colon- 
ists. The sanitary conditions are excellent. 

Many of the colonists who have passed certain grades of proba- 
tion have taken up land, upon which they reside and which they 
cultivate; and these men, if they wish, may bring their wives and 
families to live with them. Marriage also is permitted among the 
colonists. Six marriages had occurred during the preceding year, the 
women coming to the colony to live with their husbands. At the 
time of my visit there were about 42 women in the colony. 

Farming is done on shares. The superintendent receives half for 
the general funds and the other half belongs to the convict. The 
farming is done under the direction and control of the superintend- 
ent. Those living on farms report periodically at headquarters for 
inspection, and their farms also are regularly inspected. There are 
now about 149 separate holdings. 

There was a display of the products of the colony, showing a great 
variety of fruits, vegetables, and staples. It is the purpose so to 
develop the production as to make the colony the source of supply 
of food products for Bilibid Prison in Manila. Already it is sending 
some products there. 

The colonists raise their own meat and substantially everything 
that they consume, and it is hoped that in time there will be a sufli- 
cient surplus to furnish the meat supply for Bilibid and also to con- 
tribute to the meat supply of the army. Now the main supply of 
meat to the Philippines comes from Australia. 

The success at Iwahig in raising beef cattle will tend to stimulate 
like efi^orts in other parts of the islands. There is no reason why, 
with the native grasses which grow in great abundance in some of the 
islands and are well adapted for beef cattle, that the islands should 
not in time be able to dispense with all importation of meat. The 
cattle at Iwahig are raised from native cows and Indian bulls. 

The colonists also maintain a fishery, which abundantly supplies 
all the inhabitants. 

As an illustration of the confidence reposed in them, the engineer 
of the boat upon which we went from Puerto Princesa to Iwahig was 
under condemnation, and three of the four house servants of Super- 
intendent Lamb, one of them having charge of his children, were 
convicted murderers. He told me that he traveled constantly day 
and night, discharging the duties of his office, inspecting the most 
remote farms, and that he had never borne an arm since he had been 
on the island. 

The convicts may remain in the colony after they have been par- 
doned or have completed their sentence. Those remaining are sub- 
ject to its laws. • 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 23 

PRISONS. 

I carefully inspected the prisons, examining all parts of them, at 
Manila and wherever I went, except at Zamboanga, and as to the one 
there I had a report that it was of an exceptionally high order in 
respect to cleanliness and sanitation. 

It gives me great pleasure to report that the cleanliness, sanitary 
provisions, ventilation, and food and its preparation are beyond 
criticism. The contrast between the prisons as conducted under 
Spanish and American administration presents one of the most strik- 
ing changes in the islands. 

In only one place did I see an objectionable condition, and that was 
in an addition that had been recently made without proper ventila- 
tion. Governor-General Forbes has already taken the matter in 
hand and it will be rectified. This was at Iloilo. 

The prisons in the Philippines might well be taken as models of 
cleanliness by many of our cities and States. 

FINANCIAL CONDITION. 

The following table shows the condition of the finances of the Phil- 
ippine government and that they are satisfactory. 

On May 31, 1910, the surplus to the credit of the insular govern- 
ment comprised the following items: 

Friar lands bond sinking fund $795, 271. 36 

Public works and permanent improvements bonds sinking fund 441, 460. 47 

Unexpended premium, public works and permanent improvements 

bonds 4, 537. 60 

Due from Philippine Railway Company, account interest advanced. . 372, 466. 64 

Investments from appropriated surplus . 283, 342. 24 

Assurance fund. Act No. 496 24, Oil. 74 

Loan to city of Manila, account Luneta extension 25, 000. 00 

Moro Province account current 20, 081. 99 

Working surplus: 

Cash 4, 733, 633. 95 

Accounts receivable 781, 240. 81 

Total 7, 481, 046. 80 

The gold standard fund on that date had a balance to its credit of 
$9,491,344.99. 

The total bonded indebtedness on May 31, 1910, was — 

Insular: 

Friar lands bonds |7, 000, 000. 00 

Public works bonds 5, 000, 000. 00 

City of Manila: 

Sewer and waterworks bonds 4, 000, 000. 00 

Total 16, 000, 000. 00 

On July 31, 1910, of the 397,000 acres purchased with the proceeds 
of the friar lands bonds, 123,680 acres have been sold, but with deferred 
payments, so that the government had as yet received but a small part 
of the purchase price. The remainder, including much of the most 
valuable land, is still to be sold. 



24 SPECIAL REPOKT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 

AGRICULTURAL, BANK. 

The good anticipated from the creation of the Agricultural Bank 
has not been realized. Owing to the delay in establishing title under 
the Torrens system, which is the basis of the credit to be extended by 
the bank, but few loans have been made. The capital is too small 
to bring about any substantial result. The fixed charges for admin- 
istering a bank mth a capital of $500,000 are as great- as they would 
be for one much larger. Unless the bank shall establish more agencies 
at central points where loans can be negotiated with the minimum 
of expense to borrowers, the utility of the bank will fail or will be con- 
fined to a comparatively small area. 

At a public hearing in Manila on September 1, 1910, Mr. Leocadio 
Joaquin thus presented the difficulties, some of which are, however, 
erroneous: 

We all know that the basis of every government is founded on a good condition of 
agriculture and that the basis of every country or people also rests on agriculture. 
Unfortunately, Mr. Secretary, for more than ten years past the Philippines have been 
sighing and groaning under a frightful burden due to the deplorable condition of 
our agriculture. The representatives of the United States have sought the most 
practical means to find a cure for this condition of affairs, and as a remedy they 
have found the establishment of an Agricultural Bank. In theory, the bank has had 
apparently a brilliant success, but in practice it is really a deacl letter. The Agri- 
cultural Bank has no branches in the provinces or municipalities. It makes its loans 
from the Manila headquarters. It has encountered many obstacles in reaching the 
agriculturist so that it is impossible for him to secure any money from said bank. 
As an essential requisite, as an indispensable one, is the furnishing of a Torrens title 
to land, a title which has been made legal by the enactment of the land registration 
act. As this law was but recently enacted, most of our lands have not Torrens titles, 
but have titles that were derived from the Spanish Government or under Spanish 
law. At the present time there are many difficulties in the way of obtaining a 
Torrens title. There are many minute requirements on the part of the Bureau of 
Lands relating to the making of plans. This is a requirement which paralyzes the 
work, as there are very few agriculturists who can get these plans. Before the enact- 
ment of a recent law, which regulates the practice of surveying in the islands, there 
were over a thousand surveyors who were duly qualified by colleges and institu- 
tions of learning as such. This law, which was enacted about two years ago, has dis- 
qualified all of these qualified surveyors, who, as I have already said, numbered over a 
thousand, and I can now assure Your Honor that there are probably not more than one 
hundred qualified-by-the-government surveyors at the present time in the Islands. 
They are the only persons who' are competent to survey land, whose plans will be 
admitted by the Court of Land Registration in the acquisition of Torrens titles. This, 
then, is the first obstacle that a man finds who is not in possession of a Torrens title, in 
the making of the plans, survey of the land, etc. 

In addition to the other obstacles that are put in the way of the survey of the land by 
the bureau of lands, this fact alone, this lack of surveyors is of itself sufficient to make it 
impossible or at least very difficult for the agriculturist to acquire a Torrens title. 

If all of these obstacles are obviated and a Torrens title is acquired, a landowner, in 
Surigao, for example, after making a trip of from eight to sixteen days in order to secure 
a loan from the Agricultural Bank in Manila, and after negotiating with the bank will 
be able to secure only one-tenth of the value of the property as a loan. That is to say, 
if the property is worth P'10,000,a he may secure a loan for ^Pl,000. As you can under- 
stand, a property owner who has property worth nO,000 can scarcely hope to find a 
remedy for his present condition by the loan of JP1,000. Really, we do not understand 
why, the restriction being so great as regards the amount of the loan that will be given 
with relation to the value of the property, there are so many other restrictions, if it is 
the purpose of the bank to find a cure for the present conditions of affairs as regards 
agriculture. 

It is for this reason that scarcely one-tenth of the arable lands of the Philippines are 
under cultivation. 

a One peso, Philippine currency, is equivalent to 50 cents United States currency. 



SPECIAL EEPOET OP THE SECRETARY OF WAR, 



25 



Delay has been occasioned by the inadequacy of skilled surveyors 
to survey lands, for establishing titles. For this reason the work of 
making loans has proceeded slowly. 

The bank was opened for business on October 1, 1908. Up to the 
30th day of June, 1910, the number of applications received from 
each province was as follows : 



Ambos Camarines 25 

Albay 49 

Antique 2 

Bataan 33 

Batangas 3 

Benguet 1 

Bohol 2 

Bulacan 30 

Oapiz 6 

Cagayan 3 

Cavite 5 

Cebu 2 

Ilocos Norte 5 

Ilocos Sur 10 

Iloilo 8 

Isabela 30 

Laguna 11 

Ley te 15 

Manila city 4 



Misamis 22 

Mindoro 3 

Moro 4 

Nueva Ecija 34 

Nueva Vizcaya 2 

Negros Occidental 54 

Negros Oriental 4 

Palawan 1 

Pampanga 21 

Pangasinan 71 

Rizal 11 

5 

7 



Samar 

Sorsogon.. 

Tarlac 

Tayabas.. 

Union 

Zambales. 



Total 565 



Of the 565 applications, 453 were refused, principally on account of 
defective titles. 

The total amount loaned up to June 30, 1910, aggregated 1P284,450 
($142,225). The law limits the amount which can be loaned on 
property to 40 per cent of its value. 

An agency of the bank has been established at Zamboanga. 



HAILROADS. 

I personally inspected the following lines: Those of the Manila 
Kailroad Company from San Fabian to Camp One, 12.23 miles; from 
Dagupan to Manila, 122.15 miles; and from Manila to Los Banos, 40 
miles; of the Philippine Railway Company from Cebu to Danao, and 
from Cebu to Carcar, a total of 60 miles, and from Iloilo to Capiz, 71 
miles. 

All of them were well constructed and well maintained. The road- 
bed, ties, and bridges were in first-rate condition. I was particularly 
impressed by the effort being made by the management of the Philip- 
pine Railway Company in Cebu and Panay to promote agricultural 
progress along its lines. At every station there is an exhibit of the 
products, and instructions are published for the best methods of agri- 
culture. They have induced large planting of maguey upon lands 
not well adapted for other crops. A strong effort is being made to 
build up the agricultural industry in sections tributary to its lines, 
thus laying the foundation not only for its own prosperity, but for 
that of the people. 

I was particularly impressed with the shops of the company at 
Iloilo, which are extensive and of a high order. The machinery is all 
modern. Except the foremen, the operatives are Filipinos. They 
show a high degree of industry and capacity for mechanical work. 
These shops represent a large part of the cost of the road and their 



26 SPECIAL KEPOET OF THE SECRETAEY OP WAR. 

construction account should be distributed over the road in estimating 
its cost per mile. 

The number of miles of road now in operation bj the Philippine 
Railway Company is 131 and that by the Manila Railroad Company 
362. 

The Philippine people take deep interest in railroad construction, 
appreciate the benefits therefrom, and are eager for extensions. At 
public meetings at Albay and Legaspi I was urged to bring about 
the speedy building of the road from Batangas through Lucena to 
Albay. 

The original contract with the Manila Railroad Compan}^ did not 
call for any guaranty, but by a subsequent agreement the company is 
to construct some 150 miles of additional track and the Philippine 
government is to guarantee interest on first-lien bonds of the lines 
south of Manila and also on the extension to Baguio, subject to the 
annual contingent liabilitj^ lixed by Congress. 

The guaranteed system is to consist of the following lines, viz : 

Southern or guaranteed system. 

Miles. 

Belt Line 6. 

Manila-Batangas-Bauan 67. 8 

Port Line Batangas 9 

Spur Camp McGrath 1. 1 

Cavite Short Line and Naic extension 32. 7 

Calamba-Magdalena-Santa Cruz 30. 

Santo Tomas-Lucena 39. 3 

East coast extension and connection between the line now under construction 

in Tayabas Province and that in Ambos Camarines (estimated) 135. 

Legaspi-Nueva Caceres : 60. 7 

Nueva Caceres north ; 7. 

Pili-Lagonoy. 31. 

Legaspi-Tabaco extension 19.3 

Port Line Legaspi , .7 

Port Line Tabaco 8 

Ligao east 4.0 

Tabaco west 4. 

Camp No. 1-Baguio 22. 

New port connection, Manila 2. 

Total length of guaranteed system in L uzon 464. 3 

Construction is proceeding as rapidly as practicable. The survey 
is now in progress on the Benguet road. From such investigation as 
I was able to make, I am of the opinion that the road from Camp 
Number One to Baguio can be constructed on a route which will 
involve less expense than hitherto was contemplated. 

Bonds on which interest is guaranteed by the Philippine government 
have been issued as follows : 

By the Philippine Pvailway Company |7, 835, 000 

By the Manila Railroad Company 2, 108, 000 

All of the lines will probably in time become paying properties, but 
some of them must await very extensive development and increase 
of cominerce, which they will promote. 



speciaIj eeport of the secretary oe war. 



27 



EXPORTS AND IMPORTS. 

The foreign business of the islands has greatly increased since 1907, 
notwithstanding the prostration suffered by the main industry, 
agriculture, on account of the loss of work animals by rinderpest. By 
far the greatest increment has been during the last year, and this is 
directly due to the operation of the Payne bill. The prices for sugar 
and tobacco products have largely increased, and these industries 
are in a flourishing condition The price of labor has also increased. 

If modern culture and machinery shall be introduced, thus insuring 
the maximum of crops and their yield of marketable products, the 
sugar industry will be yet more profitable and largely increased, and 
that without an increase of sugar acreage. A first-class plant of the 
most modern type is being erected upon the Mindoro estate. This 
will prove an object lesson and will lead to the abandonment of old 
methods and the waste incident to them. 

The following table shows the value of exports and imports for 
the years set out : 



Fiscal year. 


Imports. 


Exports. 


1906 


S25,799,290 
28,786,063 
30,918,745 
27,794,482 
37,061,925 


$31,918,542 


1907 


33,721,767 


1908 ; 


32 829,816 


1909 


31,044,458 
39, 886, 852 


1910 





Since 1904 the balance of trade has been in favor of the Philippines. 

Value of imported coyimodities with proportion from the United States shown separately, 
fiscal years 1909 and 1910. 



Cominodities. 



Wheat flour .' 

Cars, carriages, and other vehicles 

Cement '. 

Chemicals, drugs, and dyes 

Cotton, and manufactures of 

Fish and fish products, including shellfish. 

Iron and steel, and manufactures of 

Leather, and manufactures of 

Meat and dairy products 

Oil, illuminating 

Paints, pigments, and colors 

Paper, and manufactures of 

Tobacco, and manufactures of 

Miscellaneous , 



Total 27,794, 



1909. 



Total. 



$1,172,322 

16S,520 

247,425 

440,207 

6,944,978 

332,710 

1,933,032 

494,138 

2,176,943 

614,334 

130,941 

457,543 

38,294 

12,643,095 



United 

States. 



$601,947 

45,652 

276 

106,666 

590,635 

86,987 

818,548 

354,185 

221,266 

386,692 

18,300 

120,339 

2,211 

1,340,127 

4,693,831 



1910. 



Total. 



$1,534,442 
331,637 
416,815 
539,743 

8,522,307 
612,765 

3,305,695 
760,463 

2,377,466 

1,142,250 

217,039 

638,833 

208,475 

16,453,995 

37,061,925 



United 
States. 



$1,098,823 
197,004 
103,078 
193,713 

2,120,587 
338,631 

1,970,490 
575,730 
333,298 
942,734 
91,823 
227,951 
177,627 

2,404,639 

10,776,128 



28 SPECIAL EEPOET OF THE SECEETAEY OP WAE. 

HEALTH AND SANITATION. 

Progress in promoting better health conditions has gone steadily 
on. Except for care in the use of water and uncooked vegetables 
and during the hot hours, life is pursued in Manila just as in the 
United States. 

The official census of 1903 showed the population of the city of 
Manila as 219,941. The health department census of 1910 gives the 
following population of the city of Manila: 

Americans 4, 174 

Filipinos 211, 859 

Spaniards 2, 364 

Other Europeans 644 

Chinese 14, 093 

All others 1, 275 

Total 234, 409 

For the quarter ended June 30, 1910, the death rate among people 
thus classified was as follows (annual average per 1,000): 

Americans 13. 38 

Filipinos 33. 24 

Spaniards 18. 54 

Other Europeans 11. 91 

Chinese 16, 22 

All others 15. 46 

Average 31.57 

It is thus seen that the death rate of Americans and Europeans 
living in Manila compares favorably with the rate among such people 
in any of our American and European cities of equal size. The death 
rate among the Filipinos and Oriental people living in Manila com- 
pares in a like favorable manner with the death rate among Oriental 
people in any of the Asiatic cities. 

The large death rate among the Filipinos in Manila is still largely 
due to the great death rate among children under 3 years of age. 
Though much progress has been made in improving this condition, 
there yet remains a great deal to be done. While I was there an asso- 
ciation was formed to begin an active campaign against tuberculosis. 

During the period of my stay in the islands the general health con- 
ditions were good. In Pangasinan and other places cholera had pre- 
vailed, but it had been almost entirely stamped out when I went 
through that province. Wherever artesian water is used this and 
other diseases of the stomach and bowels no longer prevail. 

The department of health is excellently administered. Some com- 
plaints were made to me, but on investigation I was satisfied that 
they were not well founded and that some of them arose_ from oppo- 
sition of medical men who had not adjusted themselves to the new 
order of things. 

The condition of our soldiers in the Philippines is good. The men 
appear healthy and vigorous. 

The following table shows a comparison between localities: 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OP WAR. 



29 



Numerical view of the effect of disease and injury on United States troops serving at home 
and abroad in the year 1909, compared with corresponding data for the year 1908, by 
countries — Proportionate numbers per thousand. 



American troops (enlisted). 



Mean 
strength. 



United States jlgos" ' 

., , fl909!! 

Alaska U908.. 

„ , h909.. 

Cuba |l9(jg 

Philippine Islands {l908 

-rr ■■ 11909.'. 

Hawaii 1^908 

{1909 
1908' " 

Total g9-- 

Regular Army, American troops, 1899 
to 1908 



57,124 

46,316 

1,064 

1,015 

604 

4,694 

12,844 

11,971 

1,014 

255 

1,669 

1,155 



74,319 
65,406 

66,500 



Admitted. 



Total. 



1,024.37 

1,148.59 

390. 04 

419. 70 

798. 01 

1,201.75 

1,348.02 

1,439.65 

1,180.47 

1,282.35 

644. 70 

760. 17 



1,062.99 
1,188.03 

1,596.65 



Disease. 



821. 77 

921.91 

281.95 

270. 94 

672. 19 

949. 30 

1,156.49 

1,207.84 

839. 25 

1,027.45 

599. 16 

716. 02 



865. 92 
962. 88 

1,379.25 



Injury. 



202. 59 
226. 68 
108. 08 
148. 77 
125. 83 
252. 45 
191. 53 
231.81 
341.22 
254. 90 
45.54 
44.16 



197. 07 
225. 15 



217. 39 



Discharged on surgeon's 
certificate of disability. 



Total. 



18.87 
21.35 
4.36 
3.67 
3.31 
21.46 
11.43 
8.65 
13.80 
39.15 



16.84 
18.48 



23.30 



Dis- 
ease. 



17.01 


1.87 


19.15 


2.21 


.87 


3.49 


2.75 


.92 


3.31 





20.83 
10.52 
6.84 
12.88 
35.59 



15.20 
16.51 



20.44 



Injury. 



.63 
.91 

1.81 
.92 

3.56 



1.64 
1.97 



2.86 



American troops (en- 
listed). 


Died. 


Total losses. 


Constantly 


Days treated. 


Total. 


Dis- 
ease. 


Injury. 


Total. 


Dis- 
ease. 


Injury. 


noneffec- 
tive. 


Each 
soldier. 


Each 
case. 


United States.... -[IgQg-- 

^1^^^ S:: 

Cuba /l^O^-- 
C^°^ \1908.. 

Philippine Islandsj^g^g- • 

Hawaii S;; 

Army transports.. -j^ggg" ' 


4.84 
5.35 
1.75 
9.17 
1.66 
4.63 
6.43 
9.31 
1.84 
7.12 
1.45 
8.31 


2.97 
3.10 

"'2.'75" 
1.66 
2.53 
4.09 
5.03 
.92 
3.56 
.96 
7.48 


1.87 
2.25 
1.75 
6.42 

""iio' 

2.35 

4.28 

.92 

3.56 

.48 

.83 


23.71 
26.70 

6.11 
12.84 

4.97 
26.09 
17.86 
17.96 
15.64 
46.27 

1.45 

8.31 


19.98 

22.24 

.87 

5.50 

4.97 

23.36 

14.61 

11.87 

13.80 

39.15 

.96 

7.48 


3.74 
4.46 
5.24 
7.34 

'""2." 73" 
3.26 
6.09 
1.84 
7.12 
.48 
.83 


39.70 
41.19 
16.22 
12.99 
29.59 
38.53 
52.27 
53.35 
52.56 
37.61 
30.97 
35.75 


14.49 
15.08 
5.92 
4.75 
10.80 
14.10 
19.19 
19.53 
19.18 
13.76 
11.30 
13.08 


14.15 
13.13 
16.18 
11.33 
13.54 
11.74 
14.24 
13.56 
16.25 
10.73 
17.53 
17.21 


Total S:: 

Regular Army, American 
troops, 1899 to 1908 


4.91 
6.13 

10.85 


3.02 
3.48 

7.35 


1.88 
2.65 

3.50 


21.75 
24.62 

34.15 


18.22 
19.99 

27.79 


3.52 
4.62 

6.36 


41.48 
42.68 


15.14 
16.62 


14.24 
13.15 


\ 





The above table is from the report of the Surgeon-General, United States Army, for 1910, and deaths 
occurring in the United States from disease contracted in the Philippines are credited to the station 
of the regiment to which the soldier belonged. 

COAL. 



The coal supply for the Philippines and ships coaling there comes 
mainly from Japan and Australia. The only mines operated in the 
archipelago are on the island of Batan. The coal is comparatively 
light and is inferior to that of Japan and Australia. It will not, 
except in emergency, be used by the navy, as the zone of movement 
would be too limited on account of the proportion of bulk to the 
energy evolved. It has, however, been tried on the transport Dix, 
being used with fairly satisfactory results from Manila to Seattle. 
It will answer well for interisland transportation. The deposits have 
not been determined sufficiently by expert examination. A mine is 
being operated on the island by the East Batan Coal Company at a 
cost of approximately 40 cents gold per ton, not including the cost of 



30 SPECIAL REPOET OF THE SECRETARY OE WAR. 

administration nor interest on the investment. This coal is sold to 
the trade at $3.25 gold per ton, f. o. b. ship. 

I visited and examined carefully the mine and plant which has been 
operated by the War Department. As near as I could get the figures, 
the cost of actual operation was $3,400 a month and, excluding that 
part of the force there engaged in taking care of material in the old 
entries and storing property, is approximately $2,500 a month, and 
this is as low a figure as the operations can be carried on for with the 
present output. 

The officer in charge informed me that the approximate cost is 
$10 a ton on board ship. This cost per ton can not be materially 
reduced without further development of entries. While the general 
opinion seems to be that there is sufficient coal on the government 
property to warrant further development, there is no reliable evidence. 
It is largely a matter of conjecture. If such development could be 
carried on so that the total cost of production would not exceed the 
cost of coal to the Government by purchase, I would feel justified in 
using the army transportation fund which has hitherto been used 
for that purpose; but in view of the present actual cost and the 
problematic results of further attempts at development, I did not 
reel justified in continuing the work and directed it to be immedi- 
ately shut down. 

A topographical survey is now being made, with a view of getting 
data for expert examination. The cost of the plant there up to the 
present time to the Government amounts to $379,640.59 and there 
has been used from the mine coal to the value of $85,000. There are 
valuable houses and much valuable machinery, much of which would 
be a loss if the work should be abandoned. On account of the vital 
importance to the islands of ascertaining definitely as to the coal 
supply and to the army and navy of having, especially in case of war, 
a supply near the scene of possible operations, and also in view of the 
expenditures that have been made, I recommend that competent 
experts be employed to investigate the coal deposits on the govern- 
ment lands at this point and elsewhere where there are outcrops or 
other indications of coal and that Congress be asked to make an 
appropriation for this purpose. 

HOTEL. 

Manila, one of the most attractive cities in the world, has not had 
its just share of travelers because it has not possessed those accom- 
modations demanded by the wealthier classes who travel for pleasure. 
There is much to attract and interest in the Philippines. 

On the 1st day of September, 1910, a memorial tablet was placed 
for a first-class hotel upon the site designated by Mr. Burnham, and 
the building, modern in all of its features, will be pushed to a speedy 
completion. Knowing how largely foreign cities draw upon the 
capital of travelers, and what large benefits they derive from this 
source, the establishment of a first-class hostelry which can cater to 
the tastes of such people in a city which has for the lack of such 
accommodations repelled them, is an event of no small significance. 
The estimated cost of the building and furnishing is ^900,000, of 
which jP600,000 were loaned by the insular government upon bonds 
secured by mortgage. 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 31 

HOSPITAL IN MANILA. 

The opening of the general hospital for patients took place while 
I was in Manila, and I had the pleasure of attending. The event 
justly attracted great attention. The buildings are handsome, com- 
modious, and constructed of stone and concrete upon the best modern 
type. The appointments are in every way up to date. Except in 
size it is, in all essentials, not in any way inferior to the best of such 
institutions constructed upon the most approved plans in America. 
Too much credit can not be given to Dr. Victor G. Heiser for the skill 
and knowledge with which he has directed this monumental work. 
It is an institution of which Manila can justly be proud, for it is a 
conspicuous exponent of its civic progress. 

FODDER. 

Attention was directed to this subject in your special report. No 
substantial results have been obtained in producing clover or alfalfa. 
Experiments have been made by the Agricultural Department in 
curing a native hay, but up to this time it has not been utilized by 
the army. The cost of provender brought from the United States is 
enormous and constitutes a large part of the extra expense of main- 
taining our soldiers in the Philippines over that in the United States. 
The cost of delivering American hay at Camp Keithley is estimated to 
be in excess of $40 per ton. A horse ordinarily consumes 14 pounds a 
day, which makes the cost about 28 cents per day. The cost of oats 
is proportionately high. I saw army horses and mules at Jolo mainly 
sustained by native produce. No effort should be spared to promote 
such culture as will supersede a large part of, if not all, importation of 
provender. This would result not only in a large saving in the army 
expenses, but would add to the agricultural prosperity of the islands. 
I was so much impressed with the necessity of taking more vigorous 
steps than had hitherto been taken for such development that I 
appointed a board consisting of the secretary of public instruction of 
the Philippine Islands, the director of agriculture of the Philippine 
Islands, one officer of the Quartermaster's Department, and two offi- 
cers of the cavalry arm of the United States Army, said officers to be 
designated by the Commanding General of the Philippines Division, 
with instructions to investigate the subject of raising forage for horses 
and mules in the Philippines, and to devise and recommend plans for 
the economical production of forage for draft animals of the army 
and other branches of the Government, with permission to said board 
to avail itself of the services of experts connected with the insular 
bureau of agriculture and other branches of the insular government 
and of the Philippines Division of the United States Army. 

At Camp Stotsenberg guinea grass is being used to some extent 
in lieu of the hay ration. 

AGRICULTTJIIAL COLLEGF. 

A visit to the agricultural college at Los Banos and an examination 
of the work it is doing and the care and success characterizing 
it, give confidence that benefits will come from it to agriculture in 



32 SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 

the Philippines hke those which have come in recent years from such 
institutions in America. Original investigations are being made as 
to insects which are noxious to plant life, and already gratifying 
success has attended them. The beetle, which has been so destructive 
to the cocoanut trees, will be brought under control and great sums 
will thus be saved yearly to this large industry, upon which the living^ 
of so many of the inhabitants depends. Much of this research work 
is being done by the students under the able direction of Edgar M. 
Ledyard. Experiments are being made in plants, seeds, and trees 
and their adaptations. Undoubtedly improvement in agricultural 
methods and an increase in yield from the propagation from selected 
seeds will follow. All of the work, including that of farming, is done 
by students. The cost is so small as to bring the benefits of the 
institution within the means of those in moderate financial condition. 
It is popular and patronized by the wealthier classes who are inter- 
ested in agriculture. The idea has prevailed, and not without war- 
rant, that the Filipinos of the better class, on account of their training 
under Spanish ideals, contemn manual labor. A healthy change is 
becoming manifest. Here I saw working in the fields several sons of 
men of wealth, and they took great pride in their work. The insti- 
tution was opened in June, 1908, and now there are 90 students. 
Doctor Copeland has under him experts from America in the various 
lines of specialties in agriculture. 

The mainstay of the islands is, and doubtless always will be, 
agriculture. The want of iron, the character of timber, and the 
quality and limited supply of coal preclude the expectation that 
manufacturing will ever become a very prominent feature of industry. 
While broadly speaking this is true, yet capital can develop a great 
variety of profitable industries that will diversify the products of the 
islands and give lucrative employment to many of the inhabitants. 

Copra and hemp, instead of being shipped in their crude form, 
from which the lowest profit is derived, should be manufactured in 
the islands. All of the copra is shipped in its raw state. Some hemp 
is made into cordage, but the amount is inconsiderable. The con- 
dition is very much the same as that which obtained in our Southern 
States when practically all of the cotton was shipped out to be manu- 
factured. A vast change has come to the prosperity of those States 
since they have extensively developed home manufactures. Much 
of the profit which should accrue to the agriculturist in the islands 
is lost, owing to the want of proper care in preparing copra and hemp 
for markQt. The copra from Java brings a higher price by $8 per 
ton than that exported from the Philippines, owing to its better 
preparation for market. 

The bureau of agriculture is sending experts to the farmers to 
instruct them in better methods. 

Hemp-stripping machines which are regarded as successful are now 
being used in Davao, Albay, and Leyte. If they shall prove to be 
what is claimed for them, a great economy will follow in hemp pro- 
duction and better prices will be realized on account of the improve- 
ment in grade. The price of hemp has been low for the last two years. 

The prostration of agriculture in certain sections on account of the 
loss of carabao from rinderpest is gradually recovering. It is thought 
that in three or four years the normal condition in this respect will 
be restored. 



SPECIAIi REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP WAR, 



33 



The sugar planters in the southern islands have, on account of good 
crops and the rise in price in sugar owing to the Payne bill, been so 
prosperous that they are making large importations of carabao from 
China, and at the present rate of progress will be sufficiently supplied. 

Periodically the locust pest has inflicted serious losses upon the 
farmers. The bureau of agriculture has ascertained their breeding 
places and a systematic war of extermination is being successfully 
carried on. In this work the constabulary give valuable assistance. 
On the whole the agricultural condition is good. 

When the plans for transportation now contemplated are carried 
out, wider markets are opened, animal diseases and noxious insects 
are brought under control, land, titles are settled so that farmers can 
avail themselves of their lands as a basis of credit, and the irrigation 
system now planned is completed, agriculture will be on a more sub- 
stantial basis and will not be subject to the prostrating conditions 
which hitherto have affected it. 

The following table gives a comparison of the fiscal years from, 
1907 to 1910, inclusive: 



Articles. 



Hemp tons.. 

Copra pounds.. 

Sugar do 

Tobacco, and manufactures of: 

Leaf do 

Cigars thousands . . 

All other 

Miscellaneous. .' 



Quantities. 



112,889 
108, 206, 130 
265, 189, 835 

29,910,788 
116,719 



Values. 



$21,085,081 
4,053,193 
3, 934, 460 

1,957,488 

1,051,621 

120,085 

1,519,839 



33,721,767 



1908. 



Quantities. Values 



113,999 
168,474,820 
334,464,646 

23, 187, 231 
117, 564 



$17, 
5, 

1, 

1, 



311,808 
461,680 
664,666 

581,741 

084,078 

48, 727 

677, 116 



32,829,816 



Articles. 



1909. 



Quantities. 



Values. 



1910. 



Quantities. 



Values. 



Hemp tons. . 

Copra - pounds. . 

Sugar do 

Tobacco, and manufactures of: 

Leaf do 

Cigars thousands. . 

All other 

Miscellaneous 



147,621 
232, 728, 116 
247, 752, 186 

23,603,142 
116,278 



$15, 833, 577 
6,657,740 
4, 373, 338 

1,668,234 

1,083,702 

40, 317 

1,387,550 



31,044,458 



168,090 
256, 559, 997 
281, 564, 991 

21,417,722 
196, 592 



$17,404,922 
9, 153, 951 
7,040,690 

1,598,557 

2, 973, 630 

65,308 

1,649,794 



39,886,852 



THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 

I heard while in the Philippines various criticisms of the insular 
administration. This was to have been expected and necessarily arises 
where people are interested in and understand public affairs. 

It has been a source of satisfaction to me that, although full oppor- 
tunity has been given, charges of official dishonesty have been few. 
In my judgment, the administration in the Philippine Islands will 
compare favorably with that given either by the United States or by 
the several States in America, and I am of the opinion that more 
numerous complaints and of a more serious character are made in the 
United States than in the islands. 

65874—10 3 



34 SPECIAL EEPOET OF THE SECRETAEY OF WAR, 

I am satisfied and I believe that anyone who makes a careful study 
of the personnel of the Philippine government will feel that the United 
States has just reason to be proud of the government it has established 
in the Philippine Islands. 

I have confidence in the integrity and ability of the Governor- 
General, who is giving his whole mind and heart to his work. 

RECOMMENDATIONS. 

(a) I beg to refer to what 1 have heretofore said with reference to 
the coal mines on the island of Batan, owned by the United States 
Government and operated by the Quartermaster's Department of the 
Array. I renew the recommendation that an appropriation of $25i ',000 
be made for the exhaustive study and development of this property. 
This recommendation was submitted in the estimate of appropriations 
for the fiscal year 1910. 

(b) I renew the recommendation made in my annual report as 
Secretary of War in 1909 that provision be made for the retirement 
of American civil employees after long and faithful service under the 
Philippine government. 

(c) On March 22, 1910, after a careful study of the recommen- 
dations of the Philippine Commission and after conference with you, 
I recommended: 

First: That the limit of indebtedness which may be incurred by 
the Philippine government for public works and improvements be 
increased from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000. A bill providing for 
this has passed the Senate and has been favorably reported by the 
Committee on Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives. 
I recommend that the passage of this bill be urged. 

Second: I repeated the recommendation made b}^ you for the 
amendment of the mining laws in accordance with several recom- 
mendations of the Philippine Commission. A bill to make this 
recommendation effective was introduced in the Senate and was 
subsequently referred to a subcommittee of the Senate Com- 
mittee on the Philippines. I recommend that this bill be given 
early consideration. 

Third: Following the recommendation of the Philippine Com- 
mission, 1 recommended the enactment of legislation to enable 
certain classes of Filipinos now excluded and aliens to become 
"citizens of the Philippine Islands." A bill effecting this was 
introduced in the Senate but did not, in the form presented, meet 
the approval of the Committee on the Philippines. I recommend 
that this matter be given further consideration. 

Fourth: I also recommended certain amendments to the organic 
act to increase the amount of land which may be homesteaded and 
the amount which may be sold to individuals. I am, after further 
study, still of the opinion that the legislation in this regard recom- 
mended was conservative and wise, but, in view of the fact that 
there is to be an investigation of the general subject of the han- 
dling of the public lands of the Philippine Islands by a committee of 
the House of Representatives, I withhold any recommendation as 
to this matter pending the conclusion of said investigation. 

Respectfully submitted. j ^ Dickinson, 

^, T. Secretary of War. 

The President. ^ 



APPENDIXES. 



35 



Appendix A. 

List of petitions submitted to the Secretary of War during his visit to the Philippines 

and of the petitioners. 



Petitioner. 



Subject. 



Nbgros Occidental. 
14 Municipal councils. 

4 Municipal councils and pro- 

vincial board. 

5 Municipal councils. 
3 Municipal councils. 
2 Municipal councils. 



4 Municipal councils. 
2 Municipal councils. 



1 Municipal council. 

2 Municipal councils. 

1 Municipal council. 

1 Municipal council. 

1 Municipal council. 

2 Municipal councils. 

3 Municipal councils. 

1 Municipal council. 

2 Municipal councils. 
Provincial board. 

Provincial board. 

Municipal council, Ponteve- 
dra, Aug. 1, 1910. 



Investigation of charges by Representative Martin. 
Sale of San Jos^ estate declared by them illegal. 

Immediate establishment railroad line in Negros 
Occidental. 

Establishment Filipino senate. 

Filipinization all public offices in islands. 

Congress formally declare intention to grant inde- 
pendence to Philippines, and not to retain, cede, 
or alienate any part thereof. 

Immediate independence all Philippine Islands, 

Discontinuance government Moro Province and 
establishment of civil government similar to 
that elsewhere in islands. 

Equalization of salaries in public. offices as between 
Americans and Filipinos. 

That Secretary of War obtain from Congress a 
money prize for person discovering efficient 
remedy for cattle diseases in islands. 

That bureau of lands facilitate homesteading by 
preparing map of lands which may be_ home- 
steaded, and furnish copy to each municipality. 

Extend period of study of Filipino students in 
United States to six years. 

That Congress extend term of office of all elective 
officials in islands to four years. 

Reduction of salaries and wages of government 
officials and employees in Philippine Islands. 

Applauding work of Messrs. Legarda and Quezon 
in Congress. 

Removal of limitations on importation of sugar, 
tobacco, and other Philippine products into 
United States free of duty. 

Power to Philippine Legislature to enact laws 
regulating emigration of labor from the islands. 

Authority for province to issue $500,000 in bonds, 
proceeds to be used for construction of public 
roads and bridges. 

Power of Philippine Legislature to legislate for 
entire Archipelago, including Moro Province.' 

Protesting against sale of friar lands in large_ tracts 
and requesting abolition of customs tariff be- 
tween United States and Philippines. 

37 



38 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECEETAEY OP WAR. 



List of petitions submitted to the Secretary of War during his visit to the Philippines^and 
of the petitioners — Continued. 



Petitioner. 



Negros Occidental — Cont'd. 
Same body, Aug. 16, 1910. 



Other Provinces. 

Filomeno 0. Zafra and 278 
others, Minglanilla, Cebu, 
Aug. 10, 1910. 



Municipal council of Calum- 
pit, Bulacan, August 15, 
1910. 



Subject. 



Presidents of the various com- 
mittees of Nacionalista 
Party of Iloilo, August 27, 
1910. 



Asking Secretary Dickinson to support Commis- 
sioner Quezon's recommendation to Congress 
for an elective Senate and empowering the 
Assembly to enact legislation restricting immi- 
gration. 



Right to make commercial treaties with foreign 

nations. 
Right to draw up their own constitution. 
An elective Senate. 

Appointment of a Filipino Vice-Governor-General. 
One-half of secretaryships of executive depart- 
ments. 
Greater representation on Supreme Coiu-t. 
Authority for Assembly to legislate for Moro and 

non-Christian provinces. 
Power to Assembly to investigate and censure, 

and impose upon administration policy of 

majority. 
Congress to fix area of friar lands that may be sold 

at same limit as that fixed for public lands. 
Homestead law be not amended as to area. 
Appeals to United States Supreme Court in 

amounts of $12,500 instead of $25,000, as at 

present. 
Law regulating emigration of laborers to foreign 

countries. 
Trial by jury. 
Independence as soon as possible. 

Creation of an elective Senate. 

Appointment of a Filipino as Vice-Govemor- 

General. 
Appointment of Filipinos to half or more of the 

secretaryships of executive departments. 
Greater Filipino representation on the Supreme 

Court. 
Extension of authority to the Assembly to le^slate 

for the Moro and other non-Christian provinces. 
Legislation by Congress restricting sale of friar 

lands to occupants, or if unoccupied, to Filipinos 

and corporations, and limiting area to that of 

public lands. 
Provisions of homestead law relating to area be not 

amended. 
Appeals to United States Supreme Coiu"t in amount 

of $12,500 instead of $25,000, as at present. 
Power to Assembly to enact legislation prohibiting, 

restricting, and favoring the immigration of 

laborers. 



Immediate independence. 



SPECIAL REPOET OP THE SECRETARY OP WAR, 



39 



List of petitions submitted to the Secretary of War during his visit to the Philippines and 
of the petitioners — ^Continued. 



Petitioner. 



Other Provinces — Continued. 

Municipal council, Cebu, 
August 17, 1910. 



Municipal council of Naga, 
Cebu, August 17, 1910. 

Municipal council of Cebu, 
July 28, 1910. 

Municipal council, Cebu, 
July 28, 1910. 

T6mas Ar6jola, deputy from 
Ambos Camarines, Aug. 11, 
1910, to Secretary of War. 

Municipal council of Talisay, 
Ambos Camarines, Aug. 6, 
1910. 

meeting of people of 
Capiz, Aug. 23, 1910. 



Convention of municipal pres- 
idents of Pangasinan, Aug. 
27, 1910. 

Convention of municipal pres- 
idents of Cavite, July 23, 
1910. 

Municipal council, Sorsogon, 
July 21, 1910. 



Municipal council, Dingle, 
Iloilo, Aug. 24, 1910. 

Municipal presidents, Pangasi- 
nan Province, Aug. 27, 
1910. 

Municipal council, Mulanay, 
Tayabas, Aug. 5, 1910. 

Municipal president, council- 
men, and residents of Arev- 
alo, Iloilo, Aug. 26, 1910. 

Municipal council, Narvacan, 
Ilocos Sur, Aug. 1, J910. 



Matias Hilado, Delegate of 
the Nacionalista Party, 
Negros Occidental, and 
Fernandez Yanson and 
Salvador Laguda, repre- 
sentatives of the National 
Progresista Party in that 
Province, to Secretary of 
War, Aug. 25, 1910. 



Subject. 



That the resolution introduced in Congress by 
Senator Crane is in accord with sentiments of 
people of Naga, and provides that copy of this 
resolution be sent to Senator Crane and Secretary 
Dickinson. 

Indorsing resolutions adopted at mass meeting at 
Manila Opera House, May 22, 1910, protesting 
against sale of friar lands to the trusts. 

Applauding Senator Crane for resolution calling for 
Philippine independence, and providing that a 
copy be forwarded to Secretary Dickinson. 

Expressing accord with action taken by Repre- 
sentatives Martin and Slayden regarding sale of 
friai lands. 

Requesting him to faithfully interpret to the Gov- 
ernment the aspirations of the Filipino people 
for immediate independence and, preliminary 
thereto, the granting of an elective Senate. 

Immediate independence. 



Immediate independence, and, in lieu thereof, 
(1) power to make their own constitution, (2) 
an elective Senate, (3) the Filipinization of tne 
public service. 

Immediate independence. 



Protesting against sale of friar lands in amounts 
greater than 1,024 hectares, and expressing ac- 
cord with Representative Martin's action. 

Applauding Representative Martin for his resolu- 
tion calling for investigation of friar land sales, 
and requesting Government to sell friar lands 
only to occupants, or if unoccupied, to Filipino 
individuals oi corporations. 

Protesting against sale of friar lands to the trusts. 

Asking the Secretary to endeavor to obtain for the 
Philippine Islands an elective Senate, to be 
purely Filipino, and trial by jury. 

Congratulating Senator Crane and Commissioner 
Quezon, and welcoming the Secretary. 

Suspension for one year of customs duty on rice 
imported from Saigon, or the reduction thereof 
on account of poor crop in Islands this year. 

Applauding action of Representative Martin; and 
requesting that the Secretary report to the gov- 
ernment that sale of San Jos6 estate is illegal and 
should be annulled. 

Requesting him to endeavor to obtain for the 
Filipinos greater participation in the more im- 
portant affairs of their government. 



40 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR, 



List of petitions submitted to the Secretary of War durivg his visit to the Philippines and 
of the petitioners — Continued. 



Petitioner. 



Other PROviNCES-^Continued. 
Philippine Chamber of Com- 



merce, 
1910. 



Manila, Sept. 



Subject. 



Province of Bulacan. 



Certain Christian inhabitants 
of the island of Mindoro. 



Objects to rate and system of taxation and to the 
budget and burden of expense of running the 
government. 

Complains of insufficient currency; of the miser- 
able condition of agriculture through loss of work 
animals and insufficient capital ; that the govern- 
ment shipyards, machine shops, bureau of sup- 
ply, prison workshop, ice and printing plants 
present an unfair competition to manufacture by 
individuals; that the government revenue cut- 
ters come into competition with coastwise ves- 
sels, which endangers the continuance of some 
navigation companies; of the difficulties and 
hardships experienced by tobacco factories and 
distilleries in conducting then business; and 
that the Filipino has little chance of success in 
competition with foreigners. 

Suggests the necessity of reducing the expenses of 
administration of the government, and that the 
Filipino should be trained in commerce. 

Notwithstanding their aspiration for immedia.te 
independence, petition for an elective senate, 
independence of the judicial power, increase of 
provincial autonomy, restoration of municipal 
autonomy, reduction of tax on alcohol, and re- 
duction of the budget. 

Protesting against the extension to that island of 
the regime for the government of non-Christian 
tribes. 



Note. — These petitions are in the Department and will be submitted to you or to 
Congress, if desired. 



Appendix B. 

Hearings Before the Secretary of War, Held in Marble Hall, Ayuntamiento, 
Manila, on September 1, 1910. 

The public session was opened by the honorable the Secretary of War at 10 o'clock 
a. m. The addresses were delivered in Spanish, interpreted by Mr. Rupert D. Fer- 
gusson, chief of the translating division, executive bureau, and reported stenographi- 
cally. 

The Secretary of War. It has been erroneously stated that during my stay in 
this country I would at all times be surrounded by public officials and by Americans 
who would not allow me to hear the voice of the people. That is not true. In proof 
thereof, in my journey to the northern provinces and in my recent journey to the 
southern provinces, as well as during my stay in Manila, I have at all times endeavored 
to come in contact with the people without any official intermediary. In order to 
do so more efficiently, I have accepted the hospitalitj' of Filipino homes for some 
days, where persons desiring to do so were at liberty to visit me. 

i have always believed in a full and free discussion of public matters. My life 
work has been that of a lawyer, and part of the time that of a judge. Therefore, the 
habit of my mind and training has led me to believe that large value is to be attached 
to a full and fair discussion of every question. Of great value to a court is the pre- 
sentation and argument of the questions which it has to decide from the several points 
of view of the parties in interest. I have had a great many interviews and besides 
have had a great many papers presented to me of various characters, some of them 
referring to questions of administration and some referring to what I might denominate 
the reciprocal relations between the Philippine Islands and the Government of the 
, United States. I have replied to most, and before I finish I will reply to all of these 
communications . 

As to those questions relating to administration, I shall put them in the way of inves- 
tigation, and shall, as soon as my opportunities will permit, give them such attention 
as I think thev deserve. In respect to those petitions and papers which refer to the 
existing relations between the Philippine Islands and the United States, I have to 
the authors of these papers stated, to some verbally and to others in writing, that I 
will bring them to the attention of those authorities in the United States which are 
invested with jurisdiction over those questions. 

In pursuance of this general purpose upon my part in coming here to learn what I 
can about those matters which affect the various interests here, I am at this public 
meeting for the purpose of listening to any representations which any of you gentlemen 
mav desire to make. 

Mr. Leocadio Joaquin. The Secretary of War has stated in the last paragraph of 
his address that he was disposed to hear any representations that might be made to 
him on this occasion. I wish to inquire of the Secretary of War if it is his purpose to 
hear only those persons who are able to show that they represent some element in 
the community, or some party or some interest. 

The Secretary of War. I can not undertake to decide whom a man represents 
and I shall treat everybody here on the same footing and I shall accord equal rights 
to all. 

Mr. Joaquin. We are grateful for the courtesy of the honorable the Secretary of 
War in giving us the opportunity on this occasion, of hearing all representations or 
complaints as may be made at this time. 

As to the first question which I shall submit to the honorable the Secretary of War, 
the principal, ever-remaining and permanent question in this country is the question 
of agriculture. We all know that the basis of every government is founded on a 
good condition of agriculture and that the basis of every country or people also rests 
on agriculture. Unfortunately, Mr. Secretary, for more than ten years past the Phil- 
ippines have been sighing and groaning under a frightful burden due to the deplor- 
able condition of our agriculture. The representatives of the United States have 
sought the most practical means to find a cure for this condition of affairs, and as a 
remedy they have found the establishment of an agricultui'al bank. In theory, the 
bank has had apparently a brilliant success, but in practice it is really a dead letter. 
The agricultural bank has no branches in the provinces or municipalities. It makes 

41 



42 SPECIAL KBPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 

its loans from the Manila headquarters. It has encountered many obstacles in reach- 
ing the agriculturist, so that it is impossible for him to secure any money fi'om said 
bank. As an essential requisite, as an indispensable one, is the furnishing of a Tor- 
rens title to land, a title which has been made legal by the enactment of the land 
registration act. As this law was but recently enacted, most of our lands have not 
Torrens titles, but have titles that were derived from the Spanish Government or under 
Spanish law. At the present time there are many difficulties in the way of obtaining 
a Torrens title. There are many minute requirements on the part of the biu"eau (n 
lands relating to the making of plans. This is a requirement which paralyzes the work 
as there are very few agriculturists who can get these plans. Before the enactment of 
a recent law, which regulates the practice of surveying in the islands, there were over 
a thousand surveyors who were duly qualified by colleges and institutions of learning 
as such. This law, which was enacted about two years ago, has disqualified all of 
these qualified sm'veyors, who, as I have already said, numbered over 1,000, and I 
can now assure your honor that there are probably not more than 100 qualified-by- 
the-Government surveyors at the present time in the islands. They are the only 
persons who are competent to survey land, whose plans will be admitted by the court 
of land registration in the acquisition of Torrens titles. This, then, is the first obstacle 
that a man finds who is not in possession of a Torrens title, in the making of the plans, 
survey of the land, etc. 

In addition to the other obstacles that are put in the way of the survey of the land 
by the bureau of lands, this fact alone, this lack of surveyors, is of itself sufficient to 
make it impossible, or at least very difficult, for the agriculturist to acquire a Torrens 
title. 

If all of these obstacles are obviated and a Torrens title is acquired, a landowner, in 
Surigao, for example, after making a trip of from eight to sixteen days in order to secure 
a loan from the agricultural bank in Manila, and after negotiating with the bank, will 
be able to secure only one-tenth of the value of the property as a loan. That is to say, 
if the property is worth no,000 he may secure a loan for Pi, 000. As you can under- 
stand, a property owner who has property worth PlO,000 can scarcely hope to find a 
remedy for his present condition by the loan of Pi, 000. Really, we do not understand 
why, the restriction being so great as regards the amount of the loan that will be given 
with relation to the value of the property, there are so many other restrictions, if it is 
the purpose of the bank to find a cure for the present conditions of affairs as regards 
agriculture. 

It is for this reason that scarcely one-tenth of the arable lands of the Philippines are 
under cultivation and we must add to, all this the burden of the land tax and another 
great difiiculty which the property owner has to meet— the lack of money to buy 
cattle with and to improve his property. Such a landowner will probably default in 
the payment of the land tax owing to the fact that he has not enough money with which 
to pay the tax, and the logical and certain consequence of all this is — as has often been 
seen — that practically everybody's property in the end will be seized by the govern- 
ment and be sold for taxes. 

These are the principal obstacles that up to the present time our agriculture has 
found in the way of its development. When the country is sinking lower and lower 
into poverty, many property owners in the provinces have recommended that the 
government of the Philippine Islands secure from the United States Government all 
of the capital necessary to establish branches of the agricultural bank in the provinces 
and municipalit'es. Such branches should have all the necessary capital in propor- 
tion to the exient of rice land and agricultural land in each district. The advantages 
that according, to many agriculturists would be derived from this method would be the 
facilities afforded to them in the matter of the applications for loans. 

The Secretary of War. Ask him what capital he thinks is necessary to accom- 
plish what he has in mind for the whole Philippine Islands. 

Mr. Joaquin. The amount of the capital would be based upon the proportion of the 
arable and agricultural lands in each district and the data in regard to these can be 
easily secured from the provincial treasurers who have a list of all these properties as 
assessed for taxation. 

The Secretary op War. Ask him if he has in his mind an idea of the total capital 
that would be necessary to carry out his views. 

Mr. Joaquin.' That is a very difficult question to determine. It is a question of 
mathematics. 

The Secretary op War. Can you give it approximately? 

Mr. Joaquin. About ten times as much as the present capital. (As the present cap- 
ital of the agricultural bank is Pl,000,000, this would mean a capital of P10,000,000.) 
The distribution of this capital among the provinces and municipalities by the gen- 
eral manager of the bank in Manila under the inspection of his deputies, who would be 



SPECIAL KEPOKT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR, 4S 

the provincial and municipal treasurers, would, we believe, solve the question, and 
I shall not dwell very much longer on this point. I wish to assure you that this is the 
principal evil. Any remedies that might be given to other bureaus or other depart- 
ments of the government should be united together and be placed here. This remedy 
is as m-gent for the agriculture of the country as a ciu^e would be for a man who is about 
to die for want of medicine. I have been over many of the provinces and I have found 
that there are very many families who are able to eat only one meal a day because they 
have not got money or food to eat oftener. 

As a matter of secondary importance but as a corollary to the principal question, 
I shall take up the question of tax assessment on land, which is another factor which 
contributes to the principal evil that affects agriculture. I have demonstrated in the 
beginning of my address that the farmer without capital will in course of time be 
crushed, and that this property will be liable to seizure by the government and to be 
sold for taxes. Many farmers also recommend that there be secured through the 
honorable Secretary of War a reform in the land tax in such a way that it will not 
fall upon the value of the land but upon the value of the products of the land, as it is 
not just or fair to punish the property owner who is unable to pay the tax on his 
land when he has no money with which to pay it; nor is it fair that the tax should be 
upon the value of the land and not upon the value of the products. 

The Secretary of War. Ask him this — if he thinks that land that is unproductive 
should not be taxed at all. 

Mr. Joaquin. Practically, in accordance with equity, it would appear not. 

The Secretary of War. Tell him that suppose a lot of rich men bought up to the 
extent that the law permits all the uncultivated land in the islands, then they would 
own and control them, and not contribute to the expenses of the government. 

Mr. Joaquin. If the honorable Secretary of War will pardon me, I can not conceive 
of such a condition of affairs either in theory or in practice. 

The Secretary of War. Ask him if he can not conceive of men taking their money 
and buying land to the extent that the law permits? 

Mr. Joaquin. Yes, sir; perfectly. 

The Secretary of War. Well, then, let him suppose that they hold those lands 
as an investment with a view to selling them. Ought they not to pay anything on 
them for sustaining the government? 

Mr. Joaquin. I do not think that the case could happen in practice because a rich 
man, when he buys land as an investment, is not going to allow the land to become 
overgrown with brush and forest and yield him nothing. We have an example here 
recently of capitalists buying lands with the purpose of cultivating them. 

The Secretary of War. Tell him that some of the most immense fortunes that 
have been made in America have been made by rich men buying up land and waiting 
for the country to develop, and thus acquired fortunes of millions and millions of 
dollars in that way, and if they do not contribute to the expenses of government on 
these lands it would be an injustice to the people who bear this burden. 

Mr. Joaquin. I fully agree with the Secretary of War that such things have hap- 
pened in America, but that would be impossible where the same conditions do not 
prevail. This country is not developed as is the United States. Where individuals 
have bought large tracts of land in the Philippines for the purpose of holding them as 
an investment, they have found at the end of the first year that much of the land 
they have bought is in forests and has depreciated in value about one-third, and at 
the end of the second year that it has depreciated one-half, and if allowed to go without 
cultivation altogether that it has become practically valueless. 

The Secretary of War. Suppose they buy lands in their primitive state and hold 
them free from taxation. There can not be any depreciation in price. 

Mr. Joaquin. Of course if the lands bought are arable land, they would quickly 
depreciate in value on account of the excessive and exuberant tropical growth, which 
would convert them into forests in a very short time. 

The Secretary of War. Suppose they are already forest when bought. Are those 
lands to be held without taxation? 

Mr. Joaquin. Here in the Philippine Islands as forest lands are government lands, 
they are not as a general rule the objects of purchase and sale. 

The Secretary of War. Ask him wouldn't they be the object of purchase if a man 
could hold them without being taxed on them. 

Mr. Joaquin. Forest land would yield him nothing and he would not be able to 
dispose of it as forest land. There is no market for forest lands. 

The Secretary of War. Tell him I just wanted to get his view. I understand 
what his opinion is. Tell him to proceed. 

Mr. Joaquin. Let us admit hypothetically the supposition put by the honorable 
Secretary of War. If a law were to be enacted making taxation on the net proceeds 



44 SPECIAL BEPOET OF THE SECEETARY OF WAE. 

irom the products of lands and then some rich man wished to take advantage of the 
situation by purchasing the land and holding it, with the object of defrauding the 
government, I believe that in that event the law might be amended to suit such cases. 
In such cases there might be given such extension of time within which it might be 
obligatory upon the owner to cultivate the land if it were possible for him to do so. 
Certainly no man can be compelled to do what is impossible. If he failed to comply 
with this condition of placing his land under cultivation and thus making it subject 
to taxation within the time specified by law then he might be adjudged as maliciously 
designing to defraud the government. The government of the Philippines Islands 
has had a practical view of my contention and has fallen in with my view by having 
exempted certain provinces where the crops were bad from the payment of the land 
tax during several successive seasons. I finish now the principal question, which I 
believe the Secretary of War thoroughly understands and that he fully realizes what 
is needed for the country. 

I pass on to the second subject. 

It has been observed in practice that there is a great lack of lawyers in the courts of 
justice. During the Spanish Government there was a certain number of attorneys 
who were paid by the Government to devote their services free to poor clients. 

The Secretary of War. Ask him does he mean in civil as well as criminal cases. 

Mr. Joaquin. It was obligatory, it was compulsory in criminal cases, but not in 
civil cases, but they acted in civil cases also. 

The Secretary of War. Ask him if in the courts here if a man is not able to employ 
counsel, the courts do not assign lawyers to do it. 

Mr. Joaquin. Yes, sir. That is the practice and it is a bad practice to be sure. 

The Secretary of War. Tell him that is the practice that obtains everywhere in 
America. The lawyer is a sworn officer of the court and he is bound to defend without 
charge any person not able to defend himself, if appointed by the court to do so. 

Mr. Joaquin. That practice has been followed here ever since the establishment of 
American Government, but the results are deficient in practice. 

The Secretary op War. Ask him to state how. 

Mr. Joaquin. The Secretary of War will agree with me that to human kind the chief 
incentive is money in every effort. Every effort that a man makes he does with the 
incentive of money. 

The Secretary op War. Tell him I do not agree with him on that proposition at 
all. If I did, I would not be here as Secretary of War, because I can make more money 
in other ways. 

Mr. Joaquin. I refer to professional cases. I say this because we have seen it in 
practice. For example, we have a trial of a criminal case and the defendant appears 
before the court. He is a poor man and asks the court to appoint a counsel for him 
and the court, who has not any lawyers to choose from as a general rule, will look around 
and see if there happens to be a lawyer in the court room and the very first lawyer 
who happens to be in the court room is generally selected by the court to defend the 
unhappy man. The trial is immediately proceeded with. Now the prosecuting attor- 
ney, who has probably prepared his case a month before, has very much the best of it 
over the lawyer for the defendant who was just brought into the case at that very 
moment. 

The Secretary op War. Ask him what is his remedy. 

Mr. Joaquin. I would recommend that the old Spanish practice be adhered to. 
Under the Spanish form of government a lawyer was appointed de oficio to defend 
all poor defendants in criminal cases and he was paid a salary just as well as the dis- 
trict prosecuting attorney. I do not find that it is just and fair that a government 
should maintain an office for the prosecution of crime and at the same time maintain 
no establishment for the defense of poor defendants in criminal cases. 

It is very necessary that the Government should take some steps to remedy this 
condition of affairs. When the Vice-Governor made a visit to one of the provinces 
some months ago he found a number of prisoners who had been in jail for over eight 
months. Their cases had not been disposed of, had not been brought to trial, and it 
was chiefly owing to the lack of some lawyer to defend them. 

The Secretary of War. Tell him if the court went on with its session and appointed 
lawyers to defend them the delays would not happen because there were no lawyers 
but because the court was not doing its duty and trying the cases before it. 

Mr. Joaquin. The chief difficulty is in the organization of the courts. We have 
district courts so that a judge will hold sessions only once every three months in his 
court in one district and very often prisoners are not brought to trial for several months 
because the judge can not get around to it. 

The Secretary of War. Then the trouble is on account of the com-ts and not on 
account of not having regular salaried attorneys. 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OE WAR. 45 

Mr. Joaquin. The chief difficulty is the want of a person appointed by the govern- 
ment to look after these poor cases, who will take an interest in each case and make the- 
necessary preliminary investigation. The court is very much occupied all the time, 
and the delay in these cases is due to the fact that they are not brought to the attention 
of the court and disposed of, while other matters are. 

The Secretary op War. Tell him, suppose the court was not in session. Tell him 
also to proceed. I do not want to curtail his remarks, but I want to give others an 
opportunity to speak. 

Mr. Joaquin. You are thoroughly informed on that point. The difficulty is due to 
the lack of lawyers de oficio. Such an attorney should have power to investigate the 
conditions of each case — each of these "pobre " (poor) cases — and bring them up before 
the court. It is a just that this should be as it is to have a prosecuting attorney's office, 
which is well paid by the government. There should be another office of attorneys 
called "defenders of the poor" to investigate all such cases and bring them up before 
the court. 

This question is the last. It is very arduous. It is really not incumbent upon me to- 
bring it up, as I am only an individual. However, I have taken it upon myself to bring 
it to your attention because it is the subject of general complaint. We are dealing with 
the question of the Filipinization of the service. The truth must be told. The Fili- 
pinos employed at the present time who have had more than ten years of experience 
are not justly compensated for their work. I shall not go into details, but I will say 
that it is a grievance on the part of the Filipino employees. All the Presidents of the 
United States have had as a motto for the Philippine Islands "The establishment of a 
government by Filipinos aided and taught by American ■;." After the visits that I 
have made into the provinces and the different departments of the government, I have 
become personally convinced of the justice and necessity of the equality before the 
law between native and foreign government employees. I wish that the Secretary 
would have it in mind that I take this matter up in representation of the employees. 

We have all great confidence in the great American nation and that all of its good 
purposes for the Filipinos will be successfully carried out, if not at a very early time, at 
least in due time. One of the great purposes that the worthy ex-Presidents of the 
United States have announced with respect to the Philippines and one that had been 
put into the Philippine bill is the complete Filipinization of the government service. 

If the honorable Secretary of War thinks that the hour has arrived for this to take 
place 

The Secretary of War. For what to take place? 

Mr. Joaquin. The Filipinization of the service. I thank the honorable Secretary 
of War very much for his kindness in hearing my impertinent representations. 

The Secretary of War. Tell him I do not regard them as impertinent at all, but 
very relevant. 

Mr. Joaquin. I thank you and I trust that taking into consideration your well-known 
democratic sentiments you will be a faithful interpreter of all the representations that 
have been made to you by the different persons during the time that you have been in 
the Philippines. 

We desire you a happy voyage and that you will grant our petitions, if you deem 
them fair and just. 

Mr. L. Gonzalez Liquete, of the newspaper La Vanguardia, was the next speaker- 
Mr. LiQUETE. I wish to state in the first place that I have not come prepared to 
speak. I am a newspaper man. I simply came here to get the news of this trans- 
cendental event, but as I have seen that none of the persons who devote themselves 
to politics has come forward to-day to give expression to his opinions, I should like to 
fill this vacuum by making a few remarks. 
The Secretary of War. I shall be glad to hear you. 

Mr. Liquete. I should, in the first place, like to express my adherence and sup- 
port to everything that has been said by Mr. Leocadio Joaquin with respect to the 
Filipinization of the service. Mr. Joaquin has spoken in general terms. He has 
referred to the principles of the policy of America toward the Philippines respecting 
the insular administration. I should like to bring to the attention of the Secretary 
of War certain data which will prove that the principles and the promises that have 
been so repeatedly and so solemnly made by the Governors-General, both in docu- 
ments and in speeches — I should like to prove, I repeat, that these promises and 
principles are very far from being realized. I have read very carefully the reports; 
of the Governors-General, of the Chief of the Bureau of Insular Affairs, and of the 
Philippine Commission, and in the last report of the Governor-General I have found 
something that might pass for an explanation regarding the difficulties in the way of 
the Filipinization of the service. This part of the Governor-General's report says 



46 SPECIAL REPOKT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 

that one of the difficulties has been principally the lack of technical men among the 
Filipinos to do the work in connection with eno^ineering and public works. This 
affirmation of course is true as regards technical Filipinos in engineering, but I do not 
think this is a reason sufficiently powerful to explain the conservative policy of the 
insular administration regarding the participation that the Filipinos ought to have in 
the administration of the Philippines. I understand that what is called the Filipiniza- 
tion — that is to say, the advisability and the necessity and the justice of giving the Fili- 
pinos a larger participation in the administration of the Philippines — would be a great 
advantage from a moral standpoint as well as from an economical standpoint. We have, 
•for example, the bureau of health. In this bureau we have some technical Filipinos 
who could occupy with great advantage to the service the highest offices in that bureau. 
We have the constabulary. Nearly all the steamers coming from America bring third 
lieutenants for the constabulary. I do not see any objection, and there are many 
advantages in having the said third lieutenants who come from the United States sup- 
planted by Filipinos. I understand that these third lieutenants who come from 
America have been very carefully selected from among young men who have graduated 
from military colleges, but these gentlemen are not subjected to the examination 
that the Filipinos who aspire to the same rank have to pass here in the Philippines. 
This same careful selection might be made from among young men who graduate from 
the schools of the government here, and a preparatory school might be created for con- 
stabulary officers. The organization of the constabulary in the Philippines had for 
its purpose the creation of a national militia force which should be responsible for 
the preservation of public order, in such manner that when first organized the con- 
stabulary was composed in each province of men who enlisted in that province, 
where they were residents. A reform that would restore the confidence of many 
people who are doubtful of the good purpose of the United States would be to make 
the constabulary a national organization, a really Filipino organization, responsible 
for the preservation of public order. 

With respect to other departments of the administration, the same thing might be 
said with respect to clerkships. The Filipinos are just as efficient up to a certain point 
as the Americans are, and the employment of Filipinos would mean a great reduction 
in the appropriations. 

If you will permit me, I would like to deal with other matters also. I should like 
to touch on the question of the friar lands. In order fully to understand public senti- 
ment on this matter, I believe it is necessary to remind you of the motives that led 
Mr. Taft to negotiate for the acquisition of these lands. These motives were fully 
explained by Mr. Taft in his special report made when Secretary of War. He there 
says that it was a great question affecting public order. He considered the question of 
the purchase of the friar lands as a question of state. He has repeated this very often — 
whenever he has touched upon the subject in his reports — and he has also repeated it 
many times at popular demonstrations that have been made in these islands against 
the retention of the friars in the Philippines. It is my opinion that the purchase of 
large areas of the friar lands by various interests is a trampling upon vested rights, 
rights that have been created by, and belong to, the former tenants of the friar estates. 

The Secretary op War. Do you know of the purchase of any large quantity of 
land where the rights of former tenants have been disregarded? 

Mr. LiQUETE. Yes, sir; the Calamba estate. 

The Secretary op War. Can you give rde a list of the nanies of any men who were 
tenants and who were willing to buy and have not been permitted to buy and have 
been dispossessed by the purchasers of any such large area of land? I would like to 
have a list of the names of such persons. You may furnish it at any time convenient. 
It will be attached as an exhibit to your remarks. 

(Mr. Liquete stated that he would do everything possible to get such a list.) 

The Secretary op War. That is contrary to my present information and I would 
like to have the details. 

(Mr. Liquete explained that he did not mean to say that any acts had been consum- 
mated already that have infringed the rights of the tenants of the friar estates, but 
that there is a decision of the Attorney-General of the United States with respect to 
the sale of friar lands which can lead up to a result which will be tantamount to that.) 

The Secretary op War. The law fully protects persons in possession, and the 
Attorney-General's opinion has no bearing on that question. So far as I know every 
person who is in possession of the friar lands has had an opportunity to buy, and that 
so far as I know no one who was in possession has been dispossessed, as no one has 
bought lands so possessed, and if you have any information of that sort I would like 
to have it. 

(Mr. Liquete thought that he could supply some data with reference to the subject.) 

The Secretary op War. I am very anxious to have it. 



SPECIAL EEPOET OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 47 

Mr. LiQUETE. Some of the tenants who have been occupying the lands, in person 
and through inheritance, for a length of time have been unable to purchase them, 
though they have not as yet been dispossessed. They would in case that the lands 
were sold be dispossessed. 

The Secretary of War. Does the gentleman know of any step that has been 
taken — any sale — which would dispossess these people? I know of no such thing, 
and if he has any information to that effect I should like to have it. 

Mr. Liquete. Very well, sir. I have nothing more to say, except to thank you 
very much. 

(Mr. Liquete stated over the telephone on September 2, 1910, that when he had 
gathered the data promised the Secretary of War he would forward it to him through 
the executive bureau. He, however, did not submit the data, and on return to Wash- 
ington the Secretary inquired by cable and found that it had not been submitted.) 

Mr. Lorenzo Tatlong Neri. I desire to speak in the name of and on behalf of 
my town, Santa Rosa, La Laguna. The Secretary of War passed through that town 
yesterday. 

The Secretary op War. Are you an official? 

Mr. Neri. No, sir, but I wish to speak because I think that the matter I have 
to present to the Secretary of War lies within his jmisdiction. 

The Secretary op War. When he said he speaks on behalf of the town I wanted 
to know whether he was speaking as a volunteer, as a committee, or in an official 
capacity. I shall be very much pleased to hear whatever he has to say even as an 
individual. 

Mr. Neri. In the month of June there was a popular assembly held in my "pueblo, " 
and I was then appointed as one of the representatives to the national assembly, or, 
rather, convention, which it was sought to hold here in Manila in the presence of the 
Secretary of War. This is a question which has to do with approximately some 200,000 
hectares of land. These 200,000 hectares were excluded from the sale of the friar 
lands made by the Philippines Sugar Estates Development Company. 

The Secretary op War. Did he say "excluded" or "included"? 

Mr. Neri. They were excluded from the sale made by the Philippines Sugar 
Estates Development Company. 

The Secretary op War. Who is that? 

Mr. Fergusson. That was one of the selling companies to the government. 

The Secretary op War. Ask him who owns these 200,000 hectares. 

Mr. Neri. A great many owners. 

The Secretary op War. The government did not buy it? 

Mr. Neri. No, sir. They were excluded from the land which was sold with the 
friar estates. The purpose of the government in buying the lands of the friar estates 
was to give facilities to the tenants for acquiring the proper title to such lands. 

The Secretary op War. That was one of the purposes but not all. Tell him I do 
not imderstand it that way. It was to get the friars away from here. 

Mr. Neri. Yes, sir. That is true. 

The Secretary of War. And that was the main one. 

Mr. Neri. Yes, sir. Now these lands which were excluded from the sale you will 
understand have been held for many years past by the present owners, but to-day it 
appears that the tenants are liable to be deprived of their rights. 

The Secretary op War. By whom? 

Mr. Neri. By the Philippines Sugar Estates Development Company. 

The Secretary op War. Is that a friar estates company? Who is that? 

Mr. Fergusson. There are several companies here and the friars sold out to them. 
They were organized 

Mr. Neri. About a month ago the president of the Philippines Sugar Estates Devel- 
opment Company wrote to all of the tenants on these lands who are actually on the 
land, who now occupy the land, saying that the company is ready to start to cultivate 
the lands on its own account and for its own benefit, so that it appears that the com- 
pany seeks to deprive the tenants of the possession of the land. 

The Secretary op War. That is a legal question, is it not? 

Mr. Neri. Yes, sir. 

The Secretary op War. Why don't the people interested get together and employ 
a lawyer and have him take up and bring it into the courts to protect their rights? 

Mr. Neri. The reason is that the company to-day has absolute property rights over 
this land. 

The Secretary op War. If they have absolute property rights over the land 
what does he think I can do? 

Mr. Neri. We simply wish to state that it might be possible for you to use your in- 
fluence in favor of these people and secure from the Congress of the United States 



48 SPECIAL REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OF WAR, 

authority for the purchase of these lands by the government in order that the govern- 
ment may then sell the lands back to the tenants as they did in the case of the friar 
lands. 

The Secretary of War. Ask him if the friars have anything to do now with these 
lands. 

Mr. Neri. I believe that the present Philippines Sugar Estates Development Com- 
pany is the same company that sold the friar lands to the government. 

The Secretary op War. Ask him if they have ever taken this matter up with the 
Governor-General. Have they ever called this matter to his attention and asked him 
to investigate it and find out what the status is? If not, I think that is what they 
ought to do. Tell him I think that is the proper way to proceed, to initiate it anyway. 

Mr. Neri. I thought I would avail myself of this opportunity in the understanding 
that you were here ready to listen to any complaints. 

The Secretary op War. Tell him I am very willing to listen, but it seems to me 
that is the most practical way to proceed. 

Mr. Neri. We are quite ready to do that and we thank you very much. As you 
are going to the United States very soon and as Congress will meet very soon and Con- 
gress must be called ujion to give authority to purchase this land, I thought I would 
bring it to your attention so that you might bring it to the attention of Congress. 

The Secretary of War. Tell him I could not do anything merely on his verbal 
statement, and I think there ought to be an investigation and some authentic facts and 
papers to lay before Congress, and I have no doubt it will give the matter proper 
consideration. 

Mr. Montenegro Reyes. It will be a crime for us not to comply with the exigencies 
of this occasion. We understand perfectly that the honorable Secretary of War in an 
administrative way is the most distinguished personage that has visited these islands, 
because he is practically what we might call the administrative head of our govern- 
ment, and as his recommendations may result in a variety of benefits to this country 
I do not wish to allow this opportunity to pass by without taking advantage of it at 
the same time I have the pleasure of speaking face to face with the highest representa- 
tive of the Sovereign Government. The nobility of the soldier, such as I am, demands 
that- 1 should talk with clearness and frankness, and to say that my people want im- 
mediate independence. [Applause.] 

The Secretary op War. Ask him what he means by "immediate independence? " 

Mr. Reyes. We mean to say that we want to have independence under the protec- 
tion of America, and right now, to-day, if possible. 

The Secretary op War. Tell him there is no probability of that either to-day or in 
the immediate future. Tell him he has spoken frankly and I would not be just with 
him if I did not also speak frankly to him. 

Mr. Reyes. I thank you, Mr. Secretary, from the bottom of my soul that you have 
spoken so frankly 

The Secretary op War. Tell him I never speak any other way. 

Mr. Reyes. But I wish to make a representation to the honorable Secretary of War 
that will justly interpret the desires of my people. 

The Secretary of War. Tell him I will be very glad to hear his statement and 
shall also be very glad to make same known to the President and to Congress. 

Mr. Reyes. I thank you very much personally and on the part of the majority of the 
people for the honor which you have done us. I should like to enter upon another 
very important question, if the Chair will kindly grant me a few minutes more. 

The Secretary op War. Ceitainly. 

Mr. Reyes. We have spoken here of agriculture. The wealth of the Filipino people 
lies in their. agriculture. Some people have said that the Filipinos do not want to 
work, but I think that the reason that the Filipino does not work is because he is a 
colonist, a dependent, he is not working for himself. 

The Secretary of War. Ask him whom he is working for. 

Mr. Reyes. Considering the conditions of the Filipino people and the fact that they 
are colonists 

The Secretary op War. Ask him if anybody else is getting the results of their 
labor except themselves. 

Mr. Reyes. I am simply making a premise. This matter involves a question upon 
which your influence, moral and otherwise, will be of great benefit to the people I 
am referring to certain legislation here — such, foi example, as the "bandolerismo" act, 
the brigandage act, a very severe law. The provisions of that law are so very strict 
that the Filipino fears to go out into the field and work. The Filipino looks upon this 
law as a sword of Damocles hanging over his head. 

The Secretary of War. Ask him what parts of this country his remarks apply to 
when he says that they are afraid to go out and work in their fields. I want to know 



SPECIAL KEPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP WAR. 49 

what section of the country he refers to. I want to inquire into these conditions and 
remedy them if I can. 

Mr. Reyes. I wish to cite the facts first— — - 

The Secretary of War. No; I want him first to specify the facts. He has stated 
it as a fact and now I want him to specify. 

Mr. Reyes. Not very long ago, in a province the name of which I have forgotten, a 
gentleman who is very well known here was accused of bandolerismo, or brigandage. 

The Secretary of War. Tell him he is getting away from the point. He is not 
answering my question. He stated that there were places in this country where the 
Filipinos were afraid to go out and work on account of that law and I asked him where 
those places are, because I want to know the facts and I want to investigate them, and 
I want him to give the specific places. 

Mr. Reyes. I will explain some facts to you that will justify me in making that 
remark. A farmer who has a little bit of capital and sufficient energy and means to 
cultivate his land goes out to his estate, which is, as a general rule, two or three or more 
kilometers from the center of the town. There he has no personal security because 
there is no constabulary there, so that there is no security to the person. A few hungry 
people go there to his estate and make a demand on the property owner for some rice, 
and it is quite natural for this man, this property owner, either prompted by feelings 
of humanity or through intimidation, to yield to such demands. The law does not 
compel this man to find out whether these people are really brigands or not, although 
morally it may be incumbent upon him to find out whether they are brigands or not 
before giving them the rice. If he does give even 2 cavansor measures of rice, which 
he is giving in perfect good faith and with good intentions, he is, under the law, a 
bandit and he is prosecuted as such. Now, then, I have a good deal of confidence in the 
courts of justice as organized to-day and the men at the head of them as men of integ- 
rity. Now, this man who has been accused of brigandage, if he is not hanged, will get 
twenty years' imprisonment, or even if he is acquitted, the amount of money he 
expends in defending himself is lost entirely. Nobody pays it back to him. It is this 
condition of affairs that keeps the people from working their lands. They might go 
out and work their land and at the end of the year make ^5,000, but on the other hand, 
they might be brought under the operations of the brigandage law and lose P'10,000, if 
they do not go to jail. In view of the fact that there is no war or brigandage or dis- 
turbance of public order — we are all at peace in these islands here now — -I am of the 
opinion that the remedy can be found in the amendment of this act, and I ask you to 
use yoxir influence with the Commission, in order that it will pass a bill amending or 
repealing the "bandolerismo" act when brought up by the Assembly. 

The Secretary of War. Now tell him I want him to answer my question, which 
he has not answered. He says that at the present time in certain places the condition 
of affairs is such that a man is afraid to go out into his field and work on account of 
the operations of this law. 

Mr. Reyes. That is true, but that condition of affairs does not prevail in the prov- 
inces near Manila. However, it is not very long since that a millionaire property 
owner, Mr. Pedro Roxas, was brought xmder the operation of the "bandolerismo" act 
in the Province of Batangas. 

The Secretary of War. Ask him if he goes out into the field to work. 

Mr. Reyes. According to the newspapers he was out on his estate superintending 
the work. 

The Secretary of War. He said that the people were afraid to go out and work 
their lands. 

Mr. Reyes. What I meant to say was going out on their estates and working their 
lands. 

The Secretary of War (to Mr. Fergusson). You said "work in the fields." Now 
ask him if he knows of an instance now in any part of these islands where people are 
ever afraid to go out upon their lands to superintend them or are afraid to go out upon 
their lands and actually work them, and if so, to please state what part it is. I want 
the facts to investigate them. 

Mr. Reyes. Actually at the present time I can not point to any particular place 
in the islands where just exactly this condition prevails, but I have pointed to con- 
summated acts in the past that bear out what I have said. I myself was appointed 
administrator of an estate in the Province of Bataan. My appointment coincided 
exactly with the capture of Felipe Salvador. 

The Secretary of War. When was that? 

Mr. Reyes. About fom- weeks ago. When I got out there to the land, I was informed 
by the people living on the land that some of the followers of Felipe Salvador had 
passed through there and had been followed by the constabulary. It is my opinion 
that the constabulary did their duty, and nothing but their duty, in following those 

65874—10 4 



50 SPECIAL RBPOET OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 

people, as it is their public duty to do bo. Now, then, suppose I had been there when 
the constabulary came in pursuit of the bandits; had these bandits been to me the 
night before and asked me for rice or any other sort of food, under the operations of 
this law the fact of their having been on my place and talking to me and getting food 
from me would bring a prosecution against me. 

The Secretary of War. Who passed this law and who can change it? 

Mr. Reyes. It is a law that was enacted by the Philippine Commission. 

The Secretary of War. Ask him if he has ever brought this matter to the attention 
of the Governor-General and presented his ideas to him. 

Mr. Reyes. No, sir. 

The Secretary of War. Tell him doesn't he think that is the proper way to do 
before going over his head to me. If he had gone there and gotten no relief that would 
be a matter then that would be a just cause of complaint, but it seems to me that that 
would be the proper way to give him an opportunity to consider his views. 

Mr. Reyes. I understand that that is the proper administrative process. 

The Secretary of War. Tell him I am very glad to hear what he has to say on the 
subject, but I think that is the most desirable way to reach an adjustment. 

Mr. Reyes. My idea was to convince you of the necessity of the amendment or 
repeal of this law in order that you may use your influence with the Commission. 

The Secretary of War. Tell him that he must understand that I could not recom- 
mend the repeal of a law on a mere ex parte statement, and I would have to refer the 
matter for an investigation by the government here, and the logical way is for him to 
take it up himself with the Governor-General. 

Mr. Reyes. I know that you are the head of things out here and I wanted to bring 
this important matter before you. 

The Secretary of War. Tell him I do not legislate. Congress, acting on my 
information, could disapprove legislation, but I do not legislate. 

Mr. Reyes. I understand that perfectly well. But I understand and so do the 
Filipino people understand that, knowing your prominence in the Taft Cabinet, you 
can make recommendations that will be acted upon. That is all I have to say. 

The Secretary of War. Tell him that I am very glad to have heard him. 

Mr. Reyes. I thoroughly understand that you can not settle this question of inde- 
pendence; that you have not the legal power to do so, but we wish you to be the 
voice of the people. 

The Secretary of War. Tell him they have representatives in Congress for that 
very purpose. 

A letter was handed in to the Secretary of War by a messenger relative to the em- 
ployment of certain Filipinos by the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association. 

A representative of the Nationalist party then presented a memorial containing 
recommendations which the Nationalist party desired the Secretary of War to present 
to the President of the United States, in order that he in turn might lay them before 
Congress. He stated that he and his party hoped that the Secretary of War would 
give them his best attention in submitting them to the President. 

The Secretary of War assm-ed him that he would do as he desired. 

Mr. Marcelo Eloriago, physician, was then recognized. 

Mr. Eloriago . I am encouraged to address you by the kindness with which you have 
addressed the people in opening this conference. 

It is not my purpose to speak to you of the independence of the Philippines, for, 
although I, like all Filipinos, am possessed by the deske for a government of our own, 
because we contend that the Filipinos are prepared — not only prepared now, but 
have for a long time past been prepared and competent — to rule ourselves, but I have 
not come here to ask you for this independence, nor to speak about it, because it does 
not lie in your hands to grant it to us; nor shall I speak of this independence, though 
it is a very beautiful thing to those here present and to all Filipinos in general. Not 
only do we desire it very much, as yom: honor must have heard in your trip through 
the provinces of this Archipelago, where you have seen reflected this desire in the 
faces of all Filipinos, but you have heard it from the lips of all who have expressed 
themselves with sincerity. Nor do I come here to lay any complaint before you, 
though I, like the majority of Filipinos, would complain of the administration, not 
on account of the goodness or the badness with which it is carried on in the hands 
of the present public functionaries, but because, in our judgment, a radical change 
is necessary; that is to say, we want self-government. This you will call a political 
question, and as regards political matters, I will repeat, honorable sir, I have not 
come to take up your time. I come, honorable sir, for those unfortimate people 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 51 

who groan in the jails, asking for them, who are not of the class who have committed 
common crimes, but those who have committed the crimes of sedition, rebellion, 
conspiracy, and "bandolerismo." These unfortunates, confined _ among common 
criminals, do not, in the public conscience, deserve such classification, because 
the common criminal commits an act for his own satisfaction, either through 
motives of revenge and hatred, or cupidity, or by the exercise of dastardly and vile 
passions. These unfortunates have committed acts which, although illegal, they 
have been impelled to do by an idea for the welfare of their country, and they should 
not be confined, all the more so in time of peace. The confinement of these individ- 
uals by the government can not be justified to-day, when peace is a fact and a beautiful 
reality, and therefore the confinement of these individuals is without reason. For 
this reason, I come, honorable sir, to request of you, and to ask you, that before you 
leave these islands, before returning to your home, you leave behind you a beautiful 
remembrance of your journey over here, and this remembrance consists of the fol- 
lowing : 

There are at present, and have been since July 1, 1910, according to data furnished 
by the bureau of prisons, 1 prisoner for sedition, 1 for conspiracy, 6 for rebellion, and 
395 for "bandolerismo." I refer to the first three classes in my remarks. As re- 
gards the last class, a majority of them also belong to the class to which I refer. One 
of the most beautiful prerogatives of power is undoubtedly the pardoning power, and 
your honor is vested with that power. If, on arriving on these shores and after having 
seen the efforts put forth by all classes of society to make agreeable your short stay in 
these islands, the greatest recompense that could be hoped for from your honor is 
undoubtedly to open the doors of the jail, with the understanding, honorable sir, that 
in doing so you will carry as a trophy to your country the most fervent gratitude of 
the persons pardoned, of their families, and of this numerous gathering who hear my 
words at this moment, then all the Filipinos will once more esteem the perfect and 
accomplished gentleman who occupies the Secretaryship of War of the United States 
of North America, the perfect and accomplished gentleman who, with generous hands, 
returns the courtesy which has been bestowed upon him. I thank you. 

Then followed an informal conference between the Secretary of War and Captain 
Mens, of the merchant marine service, relative to license fees paid by ship officers in 
the Philippines. The Secretary of War requested Captain Mens to put his claim in 
writing, when it would receive due consideration. 

Mr. Jose Turiano Santiago then asked, and was granted, permission to epeak, 

Mr. Santiago. I am the most humble man who has addressed you to-day. Mine 
is the voice of the poor — the voice of the laborers, members of the Labor Union of the 
Philippines, and of all other laborers throughout the islands. 

The Secretary of War. What do you mean by laborers? To what class do you 
refer as laborers? 

Mr. Santiago. Laborers of all trades. 

The Secretary of War. Hired laborers? 

Mr. SANTfAGO. I refer to all classes, consolidated into a general association. 

The Secretary of War. Go ahead. ■ 

Mr. Santiago. This is a social question, that of capital and labor, the eternal 
question in all countries. It has been said and published and it is our conviction that 
the purpose of the Secretary of War in holding this meeting is to hear all complaints. 
We wish to make known what we suffer in our poor homes, morally and materially. 
We wish to have our present position improved, and we have this confidence in coming 
here, because we know that our voice will reecho to a government and to a people 
who have proclaimed democracy. We have very many complaints, honorable sir, 
and those of an economic order, we the laboring men would state as follows: 

While the rents of our homes and of the land which we occupy, the food which we 
are obliged to purchase, the clothing which we have to wear, and all the staple articles 
that are necessary to us are very high-priced, our wages are too low, and it appears 
that we are to lose the hope of obtaining by peaceful representations any improvement, 
because, honorable sir, whenever there comes any peaceful protest from the laborers, 
in order that the disinherited of fortune may make use of the only means left to them, 
the means which is made use of in all civilized countries, the means which has been 
taught and practiced by the great apostles, I will not say of socialism, but of states- 
manship, in European and American countries — when we resort to the strike we have 
against us, at the side of the capitalist who oppresses us, all of the instruments of 
government, from the prosecuting attorney's office down to the most humble agent of 
police who arrests us. I shall tell the truth, as I am a man and have the weaknesses 
of a man. These declarations that I am going to make to you might, perhaps, put me 



52 SPECIAL KEPOET OF THE SECEETAEY OF WAE. 

in the same category as those who have advocated independence, though what I 
advocate is social reform, and I speak for the thousands of laborers who are suffering 
from the conditions that prevail here. In the political order, I may say, we can find 
the cause of all our evils, which we have so sincerely laid bare to you. We have a 
popular chamber, the Philippine Assembly, which genuinely represents the Filipino 
people. We have this chamber to which we might appeal and to which we have 
decided to appeal during all the time that it shall exist, to put a stop to our evila 
and our sufferings, but we see, and with regret we see — and we must be sincere in 
telling you this — that this chamber, composed of the genuine representatives of the 
Filipino people, who did not hesitate to sacrifice themselves for their ideals, and that 
genuinely represents the hearts and minds of the people, is without real power. It 
appears that this popular chamber, when we appeal to it to carry out the purposes of 
the people, will turn to us and say that they are merely there to carry out the will of 
the sovereign. 

The Assembly not very long ago rejected the Payne bill by a very large majority, 
and yet, against its will, against wind and weather, the Payne bill came into existence. 
We wish to keep this Assembly, we wish to exalt it, but we wish that the voice of this 
Assembly shall be heard, and shall never be strangled; that the Assembly shall really 
have in practice the full autonomy to which it is entitled as the representation of the 
Filipino people. We do not wish to refer to any other concrete complaint, although 
we could mention many; we have presented this in concrete form in order to make a 
concrete example of our complaints in this one case. 

We wish that an elective senate be organized as soon as possible, so that in some 
manner we may be able to have some guarantee of the acts of the popular chamber. 
There are laws, honorable sir, that exist in the Philippines that are not only not 
agreeable to the Filipino people, but will be the cause of general future discontent. 
There are laws that are not only aimed at the dignity and honor of the Filipinos, but 
also aimed against the dignity and honor of the sovereign nation that rules here. 

The Secretary of War. To what laws do you refer? 

Mr. Santiago. I am going to explain. In the constitutional bill of the Philippines 
it has been prescribed by the American Congress, that expresses the will of the 
American people, that here in the Philippines no law shall be enacted which shall 
restrict the liberty of speech or of the press, and yet we have a libel law and a sedition 
law which were enacted as constitutional measures. I wish to say that they are 
contrary to the purposes of the act of Congress of July 1, 1902. 

The Secretary of War. If you think that, why do you not take it to the Supreme 
Court of the United States and have it decided? 

Mr. Santiago. In my private opinion, it should be taken before the Philippine 
Assembly. 

The Secretary of War. If it is a question of constitutional law, the Supreme 
Court of the United States is the only tribunal that can settle it. 

Mr. Santiago. The representatives of the Filipino people who are delegates to the 
Philippine Assembly will take charge of that matter. 

The Secretary of War. You have a plain remedy if you think those laws uncon- 
stitutional and it is better to try that and get the thing settled if you think that your 
rights, are infringed under those laws. 

Mr. Santiago. I am thoroughly convinced, as are also my associates, that the 
remedy lies in our hands, and for this reason our desire is that our popular chamber 
be converted into a genuine representative of the Filipino people, a genuine parlia- 
ment. 

The Secretary op War. What do you mean when you say that the remedy lies 
in your hands? 

Mr. Santiago. That each one shall use the procedure that is open to him in order 
to seek a remedy that is legal. 

The Secretary of War. All right, you may proceed. 

Mr. Santiago. This is an example of some of the complaints that it is our duty 
to lay before you. All our complaints can be summed up in this, that we wish to have 
more legislative authority and autonomy given our legislative chamber; that within 
a very short time a Filipino elective senate should be organized, for if the same govern- 
ment is to rule hereafter as heretofore, all our efforts will be in vain. In the past, 
whatever has been approved by the lower house has been rejected by the upper 
house. 

The Secretary of War. Are you stating facts when you say that the upper house 
is rejecting everything passed in the lower house? 

Mr. Santiago. This happens, and may happen at any time. 

The Secretary of War. My understanding is that at the last session the Assembly 
passed over twenty laws that were sanctioned by the Commission. 



SPECIAL BEPORT OF THE SECEETAEY OF WAE. 53 

Mr. Santiago. Yes, sir. 

The Secretary of War. How does that tally with your statement that the Com- 
mission disapproves everything that the Assembly passes? 

Mr. Santiago. I do not wish to go into too much detail. 

The Secretary of War. But isn't that a flat contradiction of facts? 

Mr. Santiago. I have already stated an example of where the lower house has 
adopted a measure and it has been rejected, referring to the Payne bill. 

The Secretary of War. I understood you to say that the Commission rejected 
all the acts that were passed by the lower house. 

Mr. Santiago I wish to say 

The Secretary of War. But did you not say that? 

Mr. Santiago. Yes, sir. , 

The Secretary of War. How many acts passed by the last lower house were dis- 
approved by the Commission? 

Mr. Santiago. I have not the figures here. 

The Secretary of War. Can you name one, except the Payne bill? Do you not 
know that the Assembly had no jurisdiction over the Payne bill and that that was a 
matter for Congress and Congress alone? The Assembly could not pass the Payne bill 
and could not reject the Payne bill. All that it did was to express its opinion about it. 

Mr. Santiago. That is our complaint, that the opinion of the Assembly in the mat- 
ter was not heeded. 

The Secretary of War. Congress knew what they did, and it was Congress that 
did not follow their wishes. The Commission had no legislative power over the sub- 
ject and did not pass the bill and had no right to pass it. That was not a case of leg- 
islation by the Assembly. Now, can you name a single act that was passed by the 
Assembly at the last session disapproved by the Commission? 

Mr. Santiago. I can not at this moment. 

The Secretary of War. All right. 

(Note. — According to the records of the division of legislative records of the execu- 
tive bureau, 19 bills were presented to the Commission by the Assembly. Sixteen 
were approved; one was postponed until the regular session; one, referring to non- 
Christian provinces and therefore not coming within the jurisdiction of the Assembly, 
was tabled at that session and is now up for passage by the Commission; and one, pro- 
viding for the remission of land and cedula taxes under certain conditions, was refused 
passage.) 

Mr. Santiago. Lastly, I should beseech the Secretary; of War for something that I 
think lies within his jurisdiction, as it is a matter affecting insular affairs. This is a 
question that affects us, the workingmen. It consists in this, that those laborers who 
have been convicted by the courts of justice and who are at present under sentence, 
as some of them are, and some whose cases have been appealed, be pardoned. 

The Secretary of War. Of what were they convicted? 

Mr. Santiago. Some have been sentenced for threats and intimidation. Others, 
like Doctor Gomez, have been sentenced for disregarding an injunction of the cotirt. 
I have already laid bare to you the condition of oiu- laboring class, who are entirely 
defenseless. I have observed that the courts of justice have been able to issue injunc- 
tions against the sacred and inalienable right of free speech . 

The Secretary of War. Have they done so? 

Mr. Santiago. It must be understood, Mr. Secretary, that there is an injunction 
issued against us having free speech. We are quite willing to abide by all of the provi- 
sions of the laws at present enacted. We are agreeable that we should be made to 
comply with all of the provisions of the law. We wish to carry on our war by peaceful 
methods, and the only arms that we have are precisely those that are granted by the 
law. 

The Secretary of War. To what arms do you refer? 

Mr. Santiago. Simply the expression of our desires. There is only one arm left 
to us, and that is freedom of speech. The trouble is that here, whenever a strike is 
declared, the courts enjoin us from free speech. 

The Secretary of War. Will you send to the stenographer here for me a copy 
of one of those injunctions of which you complain, to be published with your speech? 

Mr. Santiago. I can furnish many. 

The Secretary of War. I would like to have the one of which you make the 
most complaint. Send me the most objectionable one. 

(Papers in Manila Electric Raihoad and Light Company v. Mariano et al. are 
attached and marked "Exhibit 1.") 

Mr. Santiago. I hope that the honorable Secretary of War will not overlook our 
last petition, which is in favor of our brothers, among whom is Doctor Gomez, who 
have been sentenced by the comls. Doctor Gomez has no crime charged against 



54 SPECIAL BEPORT OF THE SECEETAEY OF WAB. 

him other than having stood by the laboring men and having defended their rights. 
By doing this the Secretary will give us evidence by which we can prove to the 
people at large that we are not entirely defenseless. 

Now, to conclude a poorly expressed speech, I wish to say very frankly to the 
Secretary of War that it is our firm conviction that so long as we do not have all the, 
political and legislative powers in our hands it does not matter how good the admin- 
istration may be, we can say, as did honorable Manuel Quezon, that we shall never 
be happy until we have our complete independence. 

Finally, we wish to say, knowing that the Secretary of War is a member of a Cabinet 
of the Government and he can convey to them our desires and petitions, which are 
the desires and petitions of all the people, it is the general conviction of all the 
Filipinos and of all men who love freedom and who believe that they were bom 
free and should live free, that they shall never be happy, and that the benefits of 
liberty will never be theirs so long as they are considered as colonists of another 
government — as men inferior- to others. We reject with all the strength of our souls 
every assumption and every intent on the part of any sovereignty on' earth who 
should come here to implant, as sovereign in these islands, a colonial government, 
because we Filipinos are not agreeable to colonial government and we do not wish it. 

The Secretary op War. Have you ever seen anything coming authoritatively 
from Congress or the President indicating that they were going to implant a colonial 
government here? 

Mr. Santiago. No, sir. 

The Secretary of War. Then are you not climbing a hill before you get to it? 

Mr. Santiago. But we see in practice certain proceedings that tend to colonization. 

The Secretary op War. What proceedings? 

Mr. Santiago. For example, the question of public employees. According to the 
Official Roster, which I have read, there are F 12, 000, 000 paid out in salaries a,nd 
wages. Two thousand six hundred and seventeen American employees receive 
^7,000,000 and 4,075 Filipinos receive F3, 000,000. These data, taken in conjunction 
with the libel and sedition acts and other acts that in future we can foresee,^ and 
considering the position occupied by the Philippine Assembly — its lack of prestige — 
we believe, we fear, that the noble words of the unfortunate President McKinley, 
like the sacred and historic words of Philip II, will not be complied with in the 
Philippine Islands. 

The Secretary op War. Then you do not believe that the Americans are sincere 
when they say that they expect to have the administration here fit the Filipinos for 
self-government? You reject the sincerity of those statements on the part of the 
President of the United States, who really is the one who has been the principal 
exponent of those expressions? 

Mr. Santiago. I do not reject his sincerity and good faith and altruistic views. 

The Secretary of War. If he does not reject his good faith, who else in America 
has made any declaration that has any authority that would indicate that the 
Americans are taking steps to make this a colony? That is what you stated, and I 
would like to know what you base it on. 

Mr. Santiago. In the words of President McKinley, as reported in the volume of 
laws 

The Secretary op War. I am not talking about what President McKinley said, 
but am asking if anybody has said anything coming from America which represents 
authoritatively the views of the American people, indicating that the Government 
there has in view the colonization of the Philippines. 

Mr. Santiago. Nobody. 

The Secretary op War. Then, I think you have made an unfounded and reckless 
statement. 

Mr. Santiago. I have a foundation for my statement. 

The Secretary of War. Then, what is it? 

Mr. Santiago. I base my fears on the fact that the Filipinos do not need to be pre- 
pared for self-government; that they have already proved by the past that they are 
fit for self-government. 

The Secretary op War. Then, because President Taft has announced the policy 
of preparing the Filipinos for self-government and you think they are now prepared 
for self-government, you think that the continuation of that policy on the part of Presi- 
dent Taft indicates a purpose to colonize the Philippines? 

Mr. Santiago. No, sir. 

The Secretary of War. I know of no authoritative statement upon the part of 
anyone who has the right to speak on the part of the American people which would 
indicate any purpose on the part of the American people to hold the Philippines as 
colonies, and I have never heard any such views advanced there by anyone in authority. 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 55 

Furthermore, my opinion is that any such declaration would meet with a prompt pro- 
test from the American people, and it would not express their intentions. 

Mr. Santiago. The only thing I wish to say is, that from this opinion— that we are 
not prepared for self-government and that preparation is necessary, and our own 
opinion that we are prepared — we derive the result that, should we fail to give expres- 
sion to our views now, we can not but foresee a time, during the period of our prepa- 
ration and before the time that the government of the Philippines is turned over to 
us, when certain social and political questions will arise affecting the people of the 
United States, or affecting the Filipino people, either in the form of legislation or 
otherwise, which will bring about certain procedures that will lead us to the condi- 
tion of colonists. Now, to give an example. Let us suppose that a great deal of Ameri- 
can capital came to the Philippine Islands, and that it should be invested largely in 
agriculture, industry, and manufacturing in the Philippine Islands. In such a case, 
should the American capitalists get the idea that i£ the government were turned over 
to the hands of the Filipinos the Philippine government would destroy all of the con- 
cessions and privileges which they enjoyed under the American administration, they 
would undoubtedly oppose any change in the government. 

The Secretary of War. Suppose they did; do you suppose that they are stronger 
than the good faith of the American people? 

Mr. Santiago. No, sir. 

The Secretary of War. Well, I think you had better wait until the American peo- 
ple do something to indicate that they have the intent of colonizing the Philippines. 
I do not think it does any good, when declarations have been made by Presidents 
McKinley, Roosevelt, and Taft, and have been apparently sanctioned by Congress, 
indicating a purpose to bring these people up to a standard of government whereby 
there will be devolved upon them the responsibilities of their own government, to sow 
the seeds of distrust in the American people and to impugn their good faith. Now, I 
have such good faith in the purpose of the American people that, holding the views that 
I do with regard to the Philippines, if I thought they were taking steps under the guise 
of doing what they are saying, really to accomplish something different from what they 
say they are doing, I would not be here. 

Mr. Santiago. I congratulate myself very highly in being informed of the senti- 
ments of the Secretary of War, and I fully believe in his sincerity and in the sincerity 
of the American people. It is for this reason, that we have faith in the American 
people and in their sincerity, that we are trying to tell the truth to the high repre- 
sentative of the American Government. I believe sincerely in the good faith of the 
declarations mentioned by the Secretary of War, but, exercising the right that is ours 
to discuss questions freely, we wish to make known, once and for all, our sentiments, 
our intimate conviction, and our most earnest desire, which is that, as soon as possible, 
today, even, our people be given self-government — that our people be given their 
independence. We trust in this; it was for this reason that our popular chamber, whose 
members were duly elected by popular suffrage of the Filipino people, has not desired 
to importune the American people, because it has faith in that, having complied with 
the requirements exacted of us and demonstrated our capacity, those promises will 
be fulfilled. The Assembly, however, has brought up the question of independence 
itself, and has delegated Mr. Quezon 

The Secretary of War. I know that, and Mr. Quezon has made speeches to that 
effect, but I wish to know your views, and will present them to the President of the 
United States. 

Mr. Santiago. I thank you in advance for anything you may be able to do for us, 
and I will make known the views of the honorable Secretary of War to those whom 
I represent. 

The Secretary of War. It is now 10 minutes past 1. I have been here since 10 
o'clock, but if anyone desires especially to be heard, of course I will wait. Unless 
some one desires to be heard we will bring the session to a close. 

Mr. Arcadio 0. Gingro. Honorable Secretary, I had desired to seize this oppor- 
tunity to talk of the independence of the Filipino people, but as some of the gentlemen 
who have preceded me have spoken of that matter and have expressed my ideas very 
well, I will leave it to one side and treat of another matter. 

There are several colleges in these islands, some of which were established by the 
government and some by the people — public and private schools. The corporation 
act in one of its provisions says that private colleges and schools can issue no diplomas 
unless they have been acknowledged and recognized by the government. 

The Secretary of War. What does he mean by "diplomas?" 

Mr. Fergusson. He means degrees. 



56 SPECIAL EEPOKT OF THE SECEETAEY OF WAR. 

Mr. GiNGRO. A great many of these private schools have not been recognized by the 
government up to the present time, and I do not think that the failure to recognize 
some of these schools on the part of the government was due to any lack of confidence 
in the persons who are directing them. The department of public instruction has 
refused to recognize some of these private schools for the reason that the schools occupy 
very small buildings and do not have the proper equipment and materials to carry on 
the regular course of instruction according to the requirements of the department of 
public instruction. Some of the private schools are unable to meet the requirements 
of the department of public instruction for the reason that they have not got the money. 
Take the case of the Colegio Filipino, of which I was the director. It has ceased to 
exist. Various Filipinos have been graduated by this college and given diplomas, 
and some of them occupy high positions in the government, and they are no less popular 
and no less worthy men than some of those who have come from the public schools. 
Before the corporation act was enacted this college did not have sufficient equipment, 
according to the present requirements, and yet the board of directors and the faculty 
generally were able to graduate a good many scholars, some of whom are attorneys and 
some members of the Assembly. I ask that the rights of private schools be recognized 
and greater facilities be given them. 

The Secretary op War. Has this matter been taken up with the Governor-General? 

Mr. GiNGRO. I think there was a bill introduced in the Philippine Assembly on this 
matter making the requirements easier. 

The Secretary of War. Did it pass or did it fail? 

Mr. GiNGRO. If I remember rightly, it was approved by the Assembly. 

The Secretary of War. Was it disapproved by the Commission? 

Mr. GiNGRO. I believe the Commission did reject the bill. 

(The legislative records of the Philippine Commission show no such bill as having 
ever been presented to the Commission or considered by that body.) 

The Secretary of War. Tell him to take IJiis matter up with the Governor-General. 
If he does not get any remedy there, then bring it to my attention, and I will consider 
it. If I were to take up everything of that sort that had not been considered in the 
regular channels, I would simply disorganize all government here. 

Mr. Fergusson. These regulations to which he refers were probably made by the 
secretary of public instruction. 

Mr. GiNGRO. We have tried to get some remedy. 

The Secretary of War. In what way? 

Mr. Reyes. The secretary of public instruction was asked to recognize the diplomas 
issued by private schools. 

The Secretary of War. I suppose that was denied. 

Mr. GiNGRO. The only answer I got from the secretary of public instruction was that 
the private schools did not have the proper housing and equipment for conducting 
the same. 

The Secretary of War. Ask him if he took the matter up with the Governor- 
General. 

Mr. GiNGRO. No, sir. 

The Secretary of War. Tell him that is the very reason we have a Governor- 
General. He is the head authority here, with power over these other things to correct 
any wrong that exists. It is not contemplated that the War Department will take 
the initiative in matters of this sort. It will only act in cases where there is some 
wrong done and after all the remedies pro\dded here have been exhausted. If the 
matter comes before me from the Governor, I will look into it. This is not the proper 
time for me to do it. 

Mr. Luciano de la Rosa. I shall try to be very brief on account of the lateness of 
the hour (1.20 p. m.). I think you must be hungry as well as the rest of them. 

The Secretary of War. Tell him that makes no difference. I am here to hear 
them. 

Mr. De la Rosa. I shall speak very briefly. I shall speak of the present govern- 
ment — the workings of the administrative branch of the present government. 

Since the organization of civil government in these islands there has been in opera- 
tion a ciidl-service law. This law was enacted by the Civil Commission and regulates 
all public ofiices and positions and all Filipino and American employees are subject 
to its operations. They are required to pass a prior examination for any position in 
the government classified service. The act itself is good. Its object is to secure an 
efficient and honest service, but unfortunately in practice this law has been of fatal 
consequences for the Filipino employees. All these employees are subject to certain 
examinations. There are, first, second, and third grade examinations. One of these 
examinations must be passed by any person who desires a position in the classified 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OP WAR. 57 

service of the government of the Philippine Islands. American and Filipino employ- 
ees are subjected to the same grade of examination and afterwards, at the request of 
the heads of offices or bureaus in the Philippine government, are placed in some 
position. In such case the American has an entrance salary that is very different 
from the entrance salary of the Filipino, although they have both passed the same 
examination; passed the same grade. There is but one register. Practically there 
is no Filipino employee who has started in with the salary for the maximum entrance 
salary provided by the law. On the other hand, the American employee who has 
passed the first-grade examination where the entrance salary is, for example, $75 gold 
per month will always get the full entrance salary of |75 gold and his promotion is 
without limit. Now, take the case of the Filipino employee. Say that he has passed 
the English examination, second grade. In such case the entrance salary is not the 
maximum salary for the position. The most that he can get is I*°30 or 1*°40 per month. 
This is one of the anomalies that the Filipino has noted in the present civil-service 
system. Among the Filipino employees there is but one sentiment, one clamor, one 
cry — and this applies not only to the insular employees, but also to the provincial and 
municipal employees. I have not the statistical data at hand at present, but I hereby 
bind myself to furnish same to the Secretary of War. 
The Secretary op War. Tell him to furnish it so it can come in with this report.^ 
Is there anybody else who wishes to speak? If not, this session is now adjourned. 
(Adjournment was taken at 1 o'clock and 27 minutes p. m.) 



Exhibit 1. 
[Translation.] 



United States of America, Philippine Islands. In the court of first instance of the 
city of Manila. Manila Electric Railroad and Light Company, plaintiff, v. Patricio 
Mariano, Ligorio Gomez, Pio Santa Ana, Jose Turiano, Perfecto del Rosario, Arcadio 
Ginko, Antonio Montenegro, Gregorio Clemente, Sotero Morales, Timoteo Ansures, 
Diosdado Alvarez, Pio del Pilar, Tomas Santiago, Joaquin Balmori, Pedro Gil, 
Eugenio Calvez, Mariano Paguia, Aurelio Rusca, Aurelio Tolentino, J. Ernesto del 
Rosario, defendants. Civil No. 7154. 

COMPLAINT. 

Plaintiff alleges : 

I. That plaintiff is a foreign corporation, duly licensed to transact business in the 
Philippine Islands, and having its domicile in said islands in the city of Manila; that 
the plaintiff has been duly granted, and now enjoys, a franchise from the government 
of the Philippine Islands for the operation of an electric street-railway system in the 
city of Manila, and is now, and during all the times herein mentiened has been, engaged 
in the operation of said electric street-railway system as a public carrier of passengers 
for hire. 

II. That the defendants and each of them, acting in accordqnce with a common pur- 
pose among themselves, have, by means of printed and written letters, circulars, hand- 
bills, posters, and newspaper publications, and by means of public and private speeches, 
and in other ways, urged and requested many individuals and the public generally to 
boycott the aforesaid electric street-railway system of the plaintiff, and to desist and 
abstain from traveling as passengers for hire on the said street-railway system; that the 
defendants and each of them have threatened to continue, and unless restrained by the 
order of this honorable court, will continue, to urge and request individuals and the 
general public to boycott said electric street-railway system, and to desist and abstain 
from becoming passengers for hire thereon; that plaintiff is informed and believes, and 
therefore alleges, that the continuance by defendants of the conduct hereinbefore 
recited will induce and persuade many persons to boycott said electric street-railway 
system, and to desist and abstain from becoming passengers for hire thereon, and will 
thereby cause great and irreparable damage to the plaintiff. 

III. That the defendants, and others conspiring with them, have sought and are 
seeking to induce the plaintiff to employ persons whom the plaintiff is unwilling to 
employ, and to adopt methods and procedure in the conduct of its business which 
plaintiff is unwilling to adopt, and have sought and are seeking to impose their will 
and judgment upon the plaintiff in the conduct of its own affairs, in substitution for 

oData referred to was not furnished. 



58 SPECIAL REPOET OP THE SECRETARY OP WAR. 

the will and judgment of plaintiff's officers and authorized representatives; that the 
defendants are not engaged in business as public carriers of passengers, and, in their 
aforesaid past conduct and intended conduct, have no other purpose than to compel 
the plaintiff to accede to their wishes, as aforesiad, and to annoy, harass, and damage the 
plaintiff in revenge for the plaintiff's refusal to accede to such requests; that the infor- 
mation upon which this allegation is made consists of the statements which have been 
written and published by the defendants; and that, while the plaintiff has received 
information from various sources that the real motive which has actuated many, if not 
all, of the defendants in their conduct is the desire to secure political preferment and 
notoriety, the ostensible reasons for the said acts on the part of the defendants are those 
heretofore set forth in this paragraph. 

IV. That none of the defendants, nor all of them together, have property sufficient 
to reimbm'se the plaintiff for the loss and damages which will natm-ally and probably 
follow from the aforesaid intended conduct of the defendants;- that such loss and dam- 
ages can not be definitely proven as to amount, and that the commission or continuance 
during the pendency of this action, of the acts hereinbefore complained of will probably 
work an injustice to the plaintiff. 

Wherefore, plaintiff prays: 

1. That a preliminary injunction be issued by this honorable court, requiring the 
defendants, and each of them, to refrain from urging, requesting, or advising any 
person, or the public generally, whether by word of mouth or by written or printed 
communication, or otherwise, to boycott the electric street-railway system of the 
plaintiff, or to desist or refrain from becoming passengers for hire on such street-railway 
system. 

2. That, in accordance with the provisions of Act No. 1427, this complaint be 
received by the com't in English alone, and that the plaintiff be granted a period 
of ten days within which to serve and file a translation thereof into Spanish. 

3. That, after a trial herein, the preliminary injunction to be granted in accordance 
with paragraph 1 of this prayer be made perpetual. 

4. That the plaintiff recover the costs of this action of the defendants, and have 
8uch other and fm'ther relief as may be just and proper. 

Manila, P. I., May 29, 1909. 

Bruce & Lawrence, 

Attorneys for plaintiff, 
No. 15 Plaza Moraga, Manila. 

Philippine IslandvS, City of Manila, ss.: 

C. B. Graves, being first duly sworn, deposes and says: That affiant is the second 
vice-president and general manager of the plaintiff in the above-entitled cause; that 
affiant has read the foregoing complaint, and is conversant with the facts therein 
recited; that the allegations of the foregoing complaint are true, except as to those 
made upon information and belief, and as to such the affiant believes them to be true. 

C. B. Graves. 

Subscribed and sworn to before me, in Manila, P. I., this 29th day of May, 1909, the 
said C. B. Graves exhibiting to me his personal cedula No. F-1539001, issued at 
Manila, P. I., on the 26th day of May, 1909. 

[seal] " W. H. Lawrence, 

Notary Public. 

My commission expires December 31, 1910. 

[Translation.] 

United States of America, Philippine Islands. In the Court of First Instance of the 
city of Manila. Manila Electric Railroad and Light Company, complainant, v. 
Patricio Mariano, Ligorio Gomez, Pio Santa Ana, Jose Turiano, Perfect© del Rosario, 
Arcadio Ginko, Antonio Montenegro, Gregorio Clemente, Sotero Morales, Timoteo 
Ansures, Diosdado Alvarez, Pio del Pilar, Tomds Santiago, Joaquin Balmori, Pedro 
Gil, Eugenio Galvez, Mariano Paguia, Aurelio Rusca, Aurelio Tolentino, J. Ernesto 
del Rosario, defendants. ' Civil, No. 7154. Summons. 

To the defendants above mentioned: 

By these presents you are required to appear at the office of the clerk of this Court 
of First Instance of the city of Manila within the twenty (20) days after the service 
of this summons if it shall have been served in this city, and if not, within forty (40) 
days, to answer the complaint which is attached to this, in the period fixed by the regu- 



SPECIAL EEPOET OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 59 

lations of this court: And, if within the time fixed, you shall fail to appear, the 
plaintiff shall have the right to ask that judgment by default be rendered, and may 
claim from this court the remedy which it asks in its complaint. 

Given by the Hon. A. S. Crossfield, judge of this Court of First Instance, on the 
29th day of May, 1909. 

J. McMlCKING, 

Clerh of the Court of First Instance of the City of Manila. 
Copy. 

J. McMlCKING, 

Sheriff of Manila. 

[Translation.] 

United States of America, Philippine Islands. In the Court of First Instance of the 
city of Manila. Manila Electric Railroad and Light Company, plaintiff, v. Patricio 
Mariano, Ligorio Gomez, Pio Santa Ana, Jose Turiano, Perfecto del Rosario, Arcadio 
Ginko, Antonio Montenegro, Gregorio Clemente, Sotero Morales, Timoteo Ansures, 
Diosdado Alvarez, Pio del Pilar, Tomas Santiago, Joaquin Balmori, Pedro Gil, 
Eugenio Galvez, Mariano Paguia, Aurelio Rusca, Aurelio Tolentino, J. Ernesto 
del Rosario, defendants. Civil, No. 7154. 

Greetings: 

The plaintiff having entered a complaint before this Court of First Instance of 
Manila in the case above entitled, against the defendants, Patricio Mariano, Ligorio 
Gomez, Pio Santa Ana, Jos6 Turiano, Perfecto del Rosario, Arcadio Ginko, Antonio 
Montenegro, Gregorio Clemente, Sotero Morales, Timoteo Ansures, Diosdado Alvarez, 
Pio del Pilar, Tomds Santiago, Joaquin Balmori, Pedro Gil, Eugenio Galvez, Mariano 
Paguia, Aurelio Rusca, Aurelio Tolentino, and J. Ernesto del Rosario, who are men- 
tioned above, and having likewise prayed for the issue of a preliminary injunction 
against said defendants, so that each of them shall refrain frohi continuing to perform 
certain acts mentioned in the complaint and more particularly detailed further on in 
this mandate ; having viewed said complaint, the oath as to its truthfulness taken by 
the complainant, through its second vice-president and general manager, C. B. Graves, 
and being satisfied that this is a case in which an injunction should be issued on 
account of the alleged motives being sufficient, and the complainant having given 
the bond required by the law, to the amount of five thousand (P5,000) pesos, Philippine 
currency. 

By these presents, it is ordered by the undersigned, judge of this court of First 
Instance, that until further orders you, the said Patricio Mariano, Ligorio Gomez, 
Pio Santa Ana, Jos6 Turiano, Perfecto del Rosario, Arcadio Ginko, Antonio Monte- 
negro, Gregorio Clemente, Sotero Morales, Timoteo Ansures, Diosdado Alvarez, Pio 
del Pilar, Tomds Santiago, Joaquin Balmori, Pedro Gil, Eugenio Galvez, Mariano 
Paguia, Aurelio Rusca, Aurelio Tolentino, and J. Ernesto del Rosario, and all of your 
lawyers, attorneys, agents, and the rest of the persons who work in your behalf, shall 
refrain from soliciting, praying, or advising any person at all, or the public in general, 
whether verbally or by means of printed communication or by writing, or in any 
other manner whatever, to take part in a boycott against the electric tramway system 
of the plaintiff or to refrain or abstain from becoming passengers on said electrical 
tramway system. 

Given in Manila, on May 29, 1909. 

A. S. Crossfield, 
Judge of First Instance of Manila. 



Appendix C. 

[Translation.] 

Letter of the Nacionalista Party. 

Manila, September 1, 1910. 

Mr. Secretary: The Nacionalista Party believing that it interprets the feelings 
of all its members honors itself in directing to you this statement of facts to call your 
attention to the true general aspiration of the people of these islands, whose interests, 
well-being and happiness the United States has assumed control of in establishing 
its sovereignty over the Philippine Archipelago. 

The Nacionalista Party was organized in the year 1906, and promptly obtained 
popular favor. It has committees established in almost all the towns of the Archi- 
pelago, and represents approximately 81 per cent of the popular suffrage. At present 
of 81 members of the Philippine Assembly, it has 66, and of 31 provincial governors, 
it has 23. 

_ This party aspires to the immediate independence of the country, because it be- 
lieves the Filipino people endowed with those conditions necessary to establish and 
maintain a stable government of law and order, as has been proven by the existence 
of what was thegovernment of the Filipino republic in the years 1898 and 1899. The 
period of experiment which has passed during the American sovereignty is ample to 
demonstrate that the Filipinos know how to make use of civil and political liberty, 
and to comply with and to force compliance with the laws, to avoid disorders, pre- 
vent abuses, and live in accordance with the practices of civilized communities. It 
is for this reason that we believe that the transfer of political control to the Filipinos 
can not signify any sort of disturbance within the country, or danger to the life, prop- 
erty, or liberty of residents therein, but on the contrary the maintenance and preser- 
vation of the essential principles for which are established governments, law and order, 
and guaranties of liberty and justice for everybody. 

The independence of the Philippine people will be a due satisfaction for the efforts 
and sacrifices made by Filipinos in acquiring cultivation and western civilization, 
and a compliance with the sacred principles of equality and liberty of the people 
consecrated in the Declaration of Independence of the United States of North America. 

The indefinite retention of the Philippine Islands tends to produce racial antago- 
nism, misunderstanding and reciprocal jealousy among a people whose interests in 
theextreine Orient should be allied, makes difiicult the rapid development of the 
national aptitude of the Filipinos in the management and defense of their own in- 
terests, and sacrifices the future of a young people desirous of following the examples 
of the oldest m their fruitful work for the good of progress and of the life of humanity. 

In this brief exposition in which we will review the accomplishments and facts 
which have revealed the aptitude of Filipinos for independent self-government, and 
will consider some questions which affect the problem of the relations between Amer- 
ica and the Philippine Islands, it will be necessary to separate all the matters into 
various chapters with the following headings: 

I. Capacity demonstrated by the Filipinos in the organization of a popular self- 
government. 

II. The capacity of the Filipinos demonstrated during American control. 

III. Alleged obstacles to independence; their consideration. 

iy._ Obstacles to the indefinite retention of the Philippine Islands preparatory to 
their independence. 

I. 

Capacitt Demonstrated by the Filipinos in the Organization op a Popular 

Self-Government. 

It is important to set forth some historic facts which bear on the aspiration of the 
Filipinos for independence, and makes patent the aptitudes of the people in sustain- 
ing a popular independent government. 

The Philippine Islands were under the domination of Spain from the 19th of May, 
1571, when Legaspi took possession of them in the name of Philip II. The laws 

60 



SPECIAL KEPORT OF THE SECRETARY OE WAR. ' 61 

approved in the beginning for the administration of insular affairs were beneficent 
and protective in an extreme degree for the natives of the colonies. The Spanish 
people in the greatness of its then power felt itself impelled to carry the light of Chris- 
tianity and of civilization to the inhabitants of the darkest places of the earth. It 
believed, honestly, that it was called by Providence to govern foreign people, even 
by means of violence, with the object of making them happy, bringing to them knowl- 
edge of the true God and to administer their interests paternally. The Philippine 
Islands were governed in accordance with this altruistic sentiment, and the Filipinos 
were effectively converted to Christianity and educated in what progress and European 
civilization means. 

The Filipinos at the end of three hundred years constituted a homogeneous people, 
with national aspirations, political ideals, and love of progress and liberty. Never- 
theless, the paternal regime continued as at the beginning, based on the false idea that, 
the people was a child whose will and opinion should not be taken into account to 
determine matters bearing on its own interest. The people understood on the other 
side that the colonial regime in force did not favor its rapid progress to place it at the 
height of the civilized people of the earth. The doctrines relating to the right of man 
and citizenship had advanced in the conscience of the Filipinos, and as such rights 
were not recognized under the colonial regime, they were consequently demanded. 
The people by public subscription and in other ways paid for the sending of various 
Filipinos to Madrid to beg necessary reforms in the insular administration. The idea 
that the Filipino people should have the same political and civil rights as the Spanish 
people and some voice in the administration of its own affairs was the limit of the 
campaign intrusted to the Filipinos sent to Spain. 

The denial by the Spanish authorities of the petitions of the people began to produce 
discontent among the Filipinos, and the idea that they were an object of political abuse 
was readily accepted. The distance from the place where this colony was governed, 
the intrigues of the insular officials to create the belief in the governing authority of 
the metropolis of the inadvisability of reforming the policy and insular administration, 
and the suspicions of which those Filipinos who begged reforms were the object were 
BO many causes to prevent an appreciation of the justice of the popular demands and 
contributed to maintain and increase the general discontent and provoked hatred 
toward that regime. 

The hatred of what was considered political tyranny culminated in 1896, when Andres- 
Bonifacio, a man coming from the working mass, started an insurrectional movement 
against Spain which acquired great proportion, and ended in the so-called treaty of 
"Biak-na-bato." In virtue of this treaty the leaders of the insurrection promised 
to accept the program of reforms which, as they were made to understand, would be 
brought about if they laid down their arms, but as nothing was subsequently done, 
the insm-rection continued, and on the opening of the Spanish- American war in April, 
1898, the Filipinos believed there had arrived an opportunity of fighting determinedly 
for independence, expecting to count for this purpose on American aid. The American 
naval forces destroyed the Spanish fleet, occupied the Bay of Manila and the port of 
Cavite, while the Filipinos under the orders of Aguinaldo organized an army and took 
all the provinces of the archipelago from the power of the Spanish. This ended 
practically the Spanish sovereignty in the islands. 

TYPE OP POPULAR GOVERNMENT. 

There was immediately organized a Philippine government in all the occupied 
places. The government was dictatorial at the beginning, but this condition only 
lasted a month, or that is the absolutely necessary time that Aguinaldo employed in 
exciting the spirits of his compatriots in favor of Philippine independence. During 
this time Aguinaldo, ' ' understanding that the first duty of all government is to interpret 
faithfully the popular aspirations," and understanding further "the present necessity 
of establishing in each town a solid and robust organization, the firmest bulwark of 
public security and only measure of assuring union and discipline indispensable for 
the implantation of the republic, or, that is, the government of the people for the 
people," published a decree giving instructions to the people that were liberated 
from the Spanish control to change the form of government in their respective localities. 
The before-mentioned instructions outlined a type of popular government simple and 
suitable to those moments of transition. It was provided that "so soon as the town 
is free from the Spanish domination those residents most distinguished by their 
learning, social position, and honorable conduct, as well in the center of the towns 
as in the barrios, should unite in a general meeting and elect by majority votes a chief 
of the municipality and three delegates, one of police and interior order, another of 
justice and civil register, and another of taxes and property, and a chief or head of 



62 SPECIAL EEPOET OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 

each barrio," all of whom will form the popular junta. "The chiefs of the munici- 
palities after having obtained the views of their respective juntas will unite and will 
elect by majority votes a chief of the province and three councilors for the three 
departments above named." These officials. with the chief of the provincial capital 
will form the provincial council. 

There was no difficulty in the application of these instructions, and the towns and 
provinces which were under the jurisdiction of the dictatorial government worked 
m conformity therewith. On June 23, 1898, Aguinaldo resigned his dictatorial 
powers in the revolutionary government, "whose object is to struggle for the independ- 
ence of the Philippine Islands until the free nations, including Spain, recognized 
it expressly, and to prepare the country for the implantation of a true republic." 
The evident object of Aguinaldo in resigning his dictatorship was to give promptly 
to the people guaranties of a civil government as most conformable to the character 
of the new institutions _ implanted . The revolutionary government preserved the 
popular form of provincial and municipal governments under conditions heretofore 
stated. The central government was organized with the president as chief of the 
government and executive power, assisted by four department secretaries, namely, 
foreign relations, marine and commerce; war and public works; police and interior 
order; treasury, agriculture, and industry, with a revolutionary congress as the legis- 
lative power, whose members were to be elected in the same manner prescribed for the 
election of the provincial officials. To this revolutionary congress was given true 
independence, since "the president of the government may not prevent in anyway 
whatever a reunion of congress, nor interfere with sessions thereof," and with a com- 
mission of the congress presided over by the vice-president, and assisted by one of the 
secretaries of the same, as supreme court to take cognizance on appeal of criminal 
matters passed on by the provincial councils. The popular juntas and provincial 
councils were at the same time competent tribunals to take cognizance of civil and 
criminal matters, with their respective jurisdictions well defined. 

It is important to take note of these details to understand properly what was the 
object of the government that the Filipinos by themselves, without aid or council 
of anyone, proposed to adopt, having in mind their conditions and political views. 
The fact that the Filipinos had refused to reestablish the old institutions, and that 
they had created others — new ones — made it clear that the Filipinos not only had 
their own political ideas, but likewise that their ideals are the most advanced that 
the progress of time has shown. The revolutionary government was, as has been 
seen, in its essence popular. In all the governmental divisions the people were 
.represented by officials elected by them. This is especially shown if we refer to the 
organization of the judicial power which was from top to bottom officered by elected 
officials. 

THE CONSENT OP THE GOVERNED. 

The authority of the revolutionary government was extended in a few months to 
all the islands composing the archipelago by express recognition of their inhabitants. 
It was questioned in no part of Luzon, of the Visayas, or of Mindanao after the people 
were delivered from the Spaniards. The chiefs of the various non-Christian tribes 
of the north of Luzon who never submitted to Spanish domination sent messages 
acknowledging the government then established. Prominent Mohammedan chiefs 
of the island of Mindanao gave their spontaneous and sincere adhesion. The different 
grades of civilization, the accidental differences of religion, habits, and dialects, 
which are always exaggerated by those who are interested in presenting the Filipinos 
as incapable of instituting an independent self-government, were no obstacle to make 
difficult in any way the establishment of said Philippine government or the normal 
exercise of its authority over all the islands. The Filipinos on displaying their 
national unity under that government consecrated likewise its legitimacy under the 
principle that the power of the government comes from the consent of the governed. ^, 

THE PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION. 

In September, 1898, the revolutionary congress opened its sessions. All the prov- 
inces of the Archipelago were represented therein. After the work of organization, 
congress devoted all its time to drawing up a constitution. On the 20th of January, 
1899, the Filipino constitution was approved and placed in force immediately there- 
after. 

If the spirit and letter of this constitution be considered, it will be seen that its pro- 
visions contain all the principles of law, order, and liberty contained in the modem 
constitutions of the world. 

Title I defines the Philippine republic, and declares that the sovereignty resides 
exclusively in the people. Title II establishes the form of popular representative 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 63 

government, alternative and responsible, with three distinct and independent powers. 
Title III recognizes the separation of the church and state and the liberty and equality 
of all religions. Title IV contains the declaration of individual rights to life, property, 
freedom of thought, reunion and association, foundation of schools, and petition to 
authorities, the exercise of profession or industry, and prescribes the guaranties of 
these rights. Authorizes the same rights and guaranties to foreigners and permits 
the latter to acquire Philippine citizenship by naturalization papers, and residence 
dining two years in any territory of the republic. Establishes obligatory military 
service, popular gratuitous and obligatory instruction, civil trial for all crimes, prohib- 
its institution of primogeniture and the entailing of property, the accepting and author- 
izing decorations and titles of nobility. Title V establishes a representative assembly 
in which resides the legislative power. Representatives will be such of the nation, 
and may not receive any imperative mandate from their electors. They may not be 
molested for their opinions or votes nor imprisoned without authority of the assembly. 
The assembly may try the highest officials of the government for crimes against the 
state. Title VI constitutes a permanent commission of the assembly during the clos- 
ing of the sessions to decide on certain specific matters. Title VII declares the presi- 
dent of the republic chief of the executive power which he exercises through his sec- 
retaries. Questions relating to private interests of the municipalities correspond to 
the provincial and popular assemblies and to the central administration on the base of 
the amplest decentralization and economy. Title VIII provides the election of the 
president of the republic by means of a constituent assembly by absolute majority of 
votes. The term is for four years with reelection. The president may initiate laws 
and is obliged to promulgate those which have been approved. Title IX provides for 
a council of government composed of a president and seven secretaries, who are col- 
lectively responsible before the assembly for the general policy of the nation, and indi- 
vidually for their personal acts. Title X declares that the judicial power rests in the 
supreme court and other tribunals provided by law, empowering any citizen to bring 
action against the individuals of the judicial power for crimes committed in the exer- 
cise of their offices. Title XI provides that the organization and powers of the provin- 
cial and popular assemblies will be fixed by law under certain conditions. Title XII 
regulates the administration of state. Title XIII provides methods and form of 
amending the constitution. Title XIV provides that all officials must swear to support 
the constitution. Adopts as official language the Spanish. Temporarily places in 
force the Spanish laws and regulations as to the exercise of civil rights of citizens. 

There can be no doubt that this constitution not only represents the grade of cultiva- 
tion of men that drew it up, but that it shows likewise that the Filipinos considered 
a system of popular government as that most suited to their conditions and the experi- 
ences of the country. They did not think of copying and imitating the institutions 
with which they were most familiar. On the contrary, they constructed a system 
radically contrary to that which had been in force here for several centuries. In 
none of the lines of this constitution is observed a tendency to maintain any sort of 
oligarchy, but in all of them are imprinted democratic principles more accentuated, 
perhaps, than in many of the republican constitutions of the day. The Philippine 
constitution, as it was drawn up by representatives of the revolutionary congress, 
portrays with fidelity more than any other act of the Filipinos of that time the aspira- 
tions and political ideals of the people of the islands. 

CONDITIONS WHICH PREVAILED UNDER THAT GOVERNMENT. 

In the conditions of order, tranquillity, and progress which prevailed under the 
authority of the revolutionary government, there was clearly displayed the good 
dispositions of these people for the direction of their own affairs. A decree of Agui- 
naldo abolishing all gambling privileges and cockfighting taxes, "because they tend 
only to ruin the people, with slight advantage to the public treasury," was sufficient 
that the people should give up completely their ancient favorite practices. Crimes 
and ordinary misdemeanors diminished notably in number. There were enjoyed 
as in no time enthe security, well-being, and content. The parties of bandits which 
from the most remote periods were accustomed to disturb the order voluntarily dis- 
appeared. The spirit of cooperation of the people in the measures of the government 
for good order and progress was evidenced by the liberal treatment of the Spanish 
prisoners, the respect to foreigners, the attendance at school, and the return to cus- 
tomary field work in those places in which the revolutionary condition had ceased. 

The government on its part, without neglecting provisions for war, consecrated 
itself^ to organize the most important and urgent public services. The corps of civil 
physicians to watch over sanitary conditions, hygiene, and urbanization of the prov- 
inces was established. There was created a civil register in all the municipalities. 



64 SPECIAL EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 

The chiefs of the municipalities were authorized to act provisionally as notaries in 
the authentication of documents and extrajudicial acts. There was founded a uni- 
versity to teach law, medicine, pharmacy, and notaryship, and the institution 
"Burgos" for studies of the general high-school class, and there was ordered the 
reopening of all the municipal primary schools. All the provincial councils and popu- 
lar juntas were ordered to proceed to the repair and preservation of roads, bridges, 
and public buildings, because "the ways of communication were one of the causes 
which contribute to material and moral progress of every country." There was created 
an institute for vaccination to prepare and distribute vaccine to all the provinces. 
There was established a bureau of census and statistics. There was organized a corps 
of communications to regulate the sending of correspondence and telegraphic 
dispatches between the towns and provinces. 

The government not only organized practically all the public services which 
existed under the Spanish government, but likewise adopted various provisions which 
showed its good desire to watch over the general interest, prohibiting the sale of copra 
which is not thoroughly dry "as prejudicial to the credit of commercial articles," 
and the slaughtering of carabao useful for agricultural purposes, "because they might 
be better used in the fields." 

THE OPENING OF HOSTILITIES. 

On the 23d of January, 1899, in accordance with the constitution, proclamation of 
the Philippine republic was made in the town of Malolos; Aguinaldo was proclaimed 
chief of said republic. But shortly thereafter, that is, on the 4th of February, occurred 
the opening of hostilities between Americans and Filipinos. This outbreak was a 
surprise for the Filipinos. But the moral union of the people and Philippine govern- 
ment was displayed during the new condition of war. Aguinaldo published a procla- 
mation ordering the war, and his order was obeyed in all sections. The American 
forces encountered open resistance wherever they were, and had to forcibly capture 
or force the Philippine forces to surrender by superiority of resources. The sphit of 
resistance terminated toward the end of 1901, and the Filipinos, through the efforts 
made by some of thek compatriots, agreed to recognize American domination. 

II. ' 

The Capacity op the Filipinos Shown During American Control. 

Nothing can indicate better the capacity of the people for independent government 
than the spontaneous adhesion that the same people is giving to the essential demo- 
cratic principles which inspire the present government and its cooperation in the many 
steps that have been taken for the betterment of the intellectual, moral, social, and 
material conditions of the people. 

If this people should be lacking in those conditions necessary for progress, doubtless 
any effort in that direction undertaken by the American Government would have been 
fruitless. It would not be true to affirm that all the progress realized in the Philip- 
pine Islands has been due to the energy and talent of the government, since without 
the cooperation of the people, without the practical sense indispensable to appreciate 
good, no beneficent work would have been carried successfully to a termination. 

A resume setting forth the manner in which the Filipinos have conducted them- 
selves in the exercise of the powers conferred on them under the present government 
will show us that the conception and application by the Filipinos of a popular govern- 
ment are entirely satisfactory. 

public order. 

The satisfactory state of public order in the islands has been brought about with the 
aid and efforts of the Philippine people. The work of the American Army doubtless 
has been a factor in finishing the war and establishing peace, but the maintenance of 
order and tranquillity after the period of the war is due to the determined attitude and 
to the decided interest of the people to pursue in peace the struggle for their political 
ideals and to consecrate themselves to the cause of progress and prosperity destroyed 
by six years of disturbance. This attitude reveals nothing but good, practical sense — 
the good disposition which this people has of considering existing conditions in the 
determination of its national convenience. 

Public order is maintained in the municipalities and provinces by Filipino officials 
and agents with the exception of some chiefs and officers of the constabulary. The 
agricultural work and the operations of commerce are effected with the greatest tran- 
quillity and security for all. The violations of order and the local disturbances occa- 



SPECIAL REPOKT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 



65 



sioned by misdemeanors are not numerous, so that the Philippine people may sustain 
in this matter a favorable comparison with any of the most civilized countries of the 
world. The good disposition of the people toward the maintenance of order and the 
discipline of the law is evidenced most pathetically, taking into consideration that 
there has passed but a short time since the period of war with the subsequent disturb- 
ance and that there has not disappeared from the mind of the people many of the 
motives aiad prejudices which originated in the war and provoked from time to time 
discontent with the present situation. 

There is no little argument in favor of the orderly and disciplined spirit of the people 
in the fact that the exercise and practice of civil and political rights completely new 
to the inhabitants of these islands, such as liberty of religion and direct suffrage, have 
not occasioned long and bloody struggles which they have produced in nations of 
longer history tha.n ours. 



THE LOVE FOR AND PROGRESS IN PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 

r 

The great interest which the Filipino people has shown for education is quite evi- 
dent. One of the causes frequently cited and which contributed to the discontent of 
the Filipinos with the Spanish regime was the monopoly exercised in instruction by 
the religious corporations, which showed no great desire for the instruction of the masses 
of the country. In reality, during that regime primary or elemental instruction re- 
ceived little attention. The instruction in the secondary grade and in superior and 
university grades was deficient and sectarian. But in the midst of such a vicious 
system the zeal for study and the interest of families in sending their children to the 
schools and colleges established in the Philippines or to Europe to acquire a more ex- 
tended education were very marked. Poor families imposed on themselves all classes 
of sacrifices that their children might study. In many cases they begged of the rich 
families or their friends that they should accept their children in domestic service so as 
to permit them some free hours to dedicate themselves to study. 

The general movement noted under American control in favor of education is not, 
therefore, new in the history of this country. The Filipino people appreciates the 
advantages given by education and information of life. It recognizes its necessity and 
has a sympathy and aptitude for all sorts of education. This explains the fact that the 
number of children attending the schools has crowded in many cases the capacity of 
said schools and that at times there was necessity of denying admission to pupils. This 
explains likewise the fact that there has not been lacking pupils in the industrial 
schools or others of special branches of education little or not at all known in past 
periods. It is a source of congratulation to be able to say that in all experiments which, 
have taken place to prove the love of instruction or the measure of the intellectual 
capacity of the people the proof in our favor has been decisive. 

Two years ago effort was made to open courses for nurses. This was an instruction 
completely unknown in the country. The education given to woman in former times — r 
not to be for a long time absent from home, not to know or to comply with other obliga- 
tions than those purely domestic, not to require of her severe and diflBcult labor which 
was considered proper only for men — appeared to give little hope for a successful out- 
come of the new experiment, but, in view of the results obtained, there can be no doubt 
that the effort has been a complete success, which speaks in favor of the aptitude of the 
Filipino woman for the evolution of modern civilized life. The constant increase of 
schools and of the attendance of children of the school age since American occupation 
are phenomena generally observed in all the provinces. The following statement of 
attendance taken from the last report of the secretary of public instruction proves this 
assertion : 





Year. 


Public 
schools. 


Monthly- 
attendance. 


1903 


2,000 
2,233 
2,727 
3,166 
3,436 
3,701 
4,194 


150,000 
227 600' 


1904 


1905 


311^843, 
375,534 
335,106. 
359,738 
437,735 


1906 


1907 


1908 


1909 





There has been observed on many occasions a tendency to suppress or postpone the 
payment of land tax by the municipal or provincial governments, while at the same 
time they have tried to continue in force that part of said tax destined to the schools, 

65874—10 5 



66 SPECIAL REPOET OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 

and when this has not been successful the consideration of closing the schools in case of 
failure to pay said tax has exercised such influence in the provincial and municipal 
governments that there have continued in full effect the provisions of the law. 

In view of the foregoing demonstration, there can be no fear that the Filipino people 
will maintain itself in ignorance. A people that shows the live interest in being 
instructed such as the Filipino has shown before and now can not constitute a danger 
for a regular and orderly maintenance of a popular government. 

THE EXERCISE OP SUFFRAGE. 

One of the fears of those who considered the Filipinos incapahle of popular self- 
government is that they would not have sufficient discretion to elect to those offices 
which must be filled by election the best people in the community. The exercise of 
suffrage by the Filipinos has shown, nevertheless, that they know how to make good 
use of this privilege. Up to the present the electors have been able to confide public 
offices to persons who could duly perform their duties as officials. In the majority of 
cases they are persons of intelligence and responsibility who have known how to justif^ 
their election and bring about during their official terms the betterment of their 
respective towns. An excellent proof of this fact is that with rare exceptions there has 
not been suspended or deprived of his office any provincial elective Filipino official 
since American domination. Nor is the percentage of municipal officials suspended or 
deprived of office greater than that in independent nations, especially if it is considered 
that not all the suspensions or deprivations of office are the result of grave faults which 
affect the morality and capacity of certain officials. 

The good judgment and discretion of the electoral body are so manifest that the 
results of an election have given origin to few well-founded protests. The logical and 
immediate inference that we may draw from this is that there exists within the elec- 
toral body an intelligent public opinion which influences and decides emphatically 
the results of the elections. 

An indication likewise highly favorable to the Filipino people in relation to the 
exercise of the suffrage is that all the elections have taken place with the greatest 
©rder in spite, many times, of the intensity of the struggle between candidates of 
different parties prior to the election. It is not less patent and indicative of fine 
discretion in the people the fact that after the elections, or after a protested election 
has been decided, the defeated minority shows itself definitely resigned and makes 
no effort to injure or obstruct the administration of the official elected, as happens in 
other countries that are more accustomed to the use of the suffrage. We do not wish 
absolutely to affirm that there are no exceptions to this rule, but that this is the rule 
confirms our statement that the Filipino people is capable of managing a popular 
government supported by the influence of a sane and intelligent public opinion. 
This influence shows itself likewise in the cases of those officials who in power have 
not complied with their promises and duties and who later, on working for their reelec- 
tion, fail in their object even though men of education, money, or influence. 

ORGANIZATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND THEIR RELATIONS. 

The organization of political parties under democratic regime is absolutely necessary. 
Political parties are organized in the Philippines, and from the beginning there was 
markedly displayed the two tendencies which existed in all countries in which pre- 
vailed individual liberty, namely, the conservative and the radical. Before the 
proclamation of the so-called organic law of July 1, 1902, there was organized the 
so-called Federal Party which formulated the principle of final annexation of the 
islands to the United States. Without affirming or discussing whether its directors 
and founders sincerely sustained this principle or not and whether it was changed 
later, the fact is they found in this formula, or rather with that of peace, a means of 
weakening the revolution. Forced thereto by circumstances, the people accepted 
peace under the American sovereignty. The Federal Party was the only party 
during that time, since the partisans of immediate independence of the country, in 
spite of having attempted to organize a party, did not obtain the consent of the Ameri- 
can Government which qualified them as upholders and sympathizers of the revolu- 
tion in arms. Later, when the organic law was promulgated different parties arose, - 
all of which aspired to final independence for the country. The Federal Party in 
1904, on seeing that the idea of annexation found no popular support, changed its 
original program and set forth in its place the obtaining of independence by gradual 
steps and successive increase of Filipino control in the administration of the govern- 
ment. Without weakening their views, strong in their former desires, the partisans 
of immediate independence formed at the end of the year 1906 a great organization 
entitled "Partido Nacionalista, " which has extended rapidly throughout the country 



, SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 67 

because it responded better to its political aspirations. The principal program of this 
party is, as has been said, the immediate independence of the country. 

In this manner were properly defined the two tendencies of Filipino opinion. The 
principals of the Federal Party, now called "Partido Progresista, " represent the con- 
servative tendency of man, and the "Partido Nacionalista " the radical tendency. 

But even the conservative tendency can not now support in any manner the per- 
manent maintenance of the present relations with North America, nor the radical 
tendency conceive of the employment of violent measures to bring about the change 
■of sovereignty. One, as well as the other, believes that independence must be given 
to the people of the islands, and differ only in the idea as to how and when independ- 
ence must be obtained. 

In the relations between the men of both parties there is noted nearly always a close 
alliance and unity of opinion in considering matters relating to the best manner of 
administering local affairs under this provisional government, and although, as is 
natural in time of elections, there are uttered bitter censures and recriminations, the 
harmony which is maintained and the courtesy with which they treat each other in 
the course of their relations are an indication that they consider the public interest 
completely separate from the selfishness of faction or of party. Crises have occurred 
in the relations of both parties within the Assembly and out of it, and likewise in the 
relations between the prominent men in the same party, but such crises not having 
been frequent were altogether passing, ending in the greatest cordiality and respect. 
It is certainly flattering to the pride of the Filipinos to cite that fact which shows 
better than any other the practice of tolerance and of mutual consideration between 
both parties which occurred in the Assembly during the discussion of the Payne bill. 
The Progresista minority unanimously declined to assist at the sessions of the Assem- 
bly, believing itself offended at the treatment given it by the majority, but at the 
end of a week, through mutual explana.tions, the affair remained satisfactorily adjusted 
to both sides. 

PROVINCES AND MUNICIPALITIES. 

The administration of the provinces and municipalities can not but merit a favor- 
able opinion regarding the aptitude of the Filipinos for the exercise of the powers 
intrusted to them. In reality, considering the provincial administration, the func- 
tions authorized to Filipinos suffer such limitations that it is frequently found that 
the local initiatives are crippled by the delays of a centralized regime. But in spite 
of this, to the energy, skill, and patriotism of the provincial governments are due the 
preservation of order, the progress of public instruction, the betterment of the high- 
ways, bridges, and public buildings, the introduction of sanitary and hygienic meas- 
ures, and the assurance of improvements of all sorts for the well-being of the community 
in their respective provinces. 

The municipal officials, on their part overcoming many difficulties, of which the 
greatest is the lack of funds, show each day a noble emulation in bettering the public 
service in their respective localities. If the interest displayed by the municipal 
officials in the construction of public edifices, particularly schools and markets, in 
the boring of artesian wells for public sanitation, and the improvement of neighbor- 
hood roads, in the prosecution and punishment of evil doers, and in the ornamentation 
and sanitation of public places, be considered, there is reason for saying that every- 
where they understand the true public interest, and the officials understand at the 
same time that they are servants of the public well-being. The municipalities which 
can count on sufficient funds have realized all classes of public works that are monu- 
ments of progress and of efficiency in the public service. The majority of the munici- 
palities naturally can not display such monuments, because of lack of resources, but 
all can show that they have done something for the towns and for the people, who see 
with deep feeling the excellent use they are making of the money provided by the 
payment of their taxes. 

The interest with which in some places are attended the popular conferences in 
which instruction is given to the people of its rights and civic duties, is an argument 
against what is affirmed by some writers of "Caciquismo" of the local officials, which 
they supposed very general in the towns of the Philippine Islands. In these con- 
ferences the first who take part are the very local functionaries and young people of 
the schools. The Philippine Assembly initiated a law for this purpose, which is pro- 
ducing excellent results. 

PHILIPPINE MAGISTRATES AND JUDGES. 

There is a very general belief against the methods of administration of justice by 
oriental people, especially when the parties in litigation are not natives, but of other 
races. The organization of tribunals of justice in the Philippine Islands, and the 



68 SPECIAl, REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OP WAR. 

participation which has been given to the Filipinos in it, have shown the inconsist-: 
ency of such belief. The Filipino magistrates and judges, whether they have sat 
together with Americans, or alone, can not be accused of partiality or bad faith. Some 
decisions of Filipino judges have given origin to suspicions among the Filipinos them- 
selves, that they have been dictated to under executive influence; it has not been 
possible to confirm these suspicions and they only have their foundation in what is 
generally considered a defect in the present system, which confers on the executive 
the power to name and remove said judges. No American or foreigner has been able 
to formulate a just accusation against any Filipino judge for lack of competence or 
integrity in his decisions and methods, and this proves that the law in Filipino hands 
offers equal protection to everyone, native or foreigner, poor or rich. The reputation 
of the Filipino judge has always been very high, and this has been noted by some 
Americans who have familiarized themselves with the affairs of the Philippine judi- 
ciary. There is not seen then any reason to believe that if the government were 
FiUpino, the native judges would not conduct themselves in the manner in which 
they now perform their duties in hearing and deciding the questions which are pre^ 
sented before the judges without fear or favor. ' 

FILIPINO EMPLOYEES SUBJECT TO THE CIVIL SERVICE. 

The efficiency shown by Filipinos subject to civil service in public office which they 
occupy, justifies the belief heretofore expressed publicly before a body of the repre- 
sentatives of Congress in 1905, that there were sufficient persons in the country to serve 
the public interests in the different branches of administration. This statement was 
understood apparently erroneously as an enunciation of the incorrect idea that the 
Filipino had of popular government, believing that there was necessary a governing 
class and another class obedient and submissive. But the idea which it was intended 
properly to express was that the administration of the public interests might be well 
served by a sufficient number of persons who possess the necessary intelligence and 
zeal for the fulfilling of their public duties. This belief has been completely demon- 
strated by facts. 

Speaking of Filipino employees, the executive secretary, in his annual report for 
1905, made the following statement: "The Filipinos have demonstrated markecl capac- 
ity in many respects, and a devotion to duty and a desire to increase their knowledge, 
and have demonstrated that under good auspices they may execute original work of 
highly creditable character, which merits more praise than is generally conceded to 
them." All the Philippine Governors-General during the American administration 
have agreed on this point, and Governor-General Forbes, in his inaugural discourse, 
said: "I would not desire better men than the present ofiicials and employees of the 
government, Americans as well as Filipinos. They may be favorably compared with 
any men that I have seen in my life in respect to aptitude and fidelity in compliance 
with duty." ,_: 

PHILIPPINE ASSEMBLY. 

We reach the climax of this probational process. If the plain demonstrations 
of capacity given by the country in the other orders of public activity heretofore 
mentioned were not sufficient, the establishment of the Philippine Assembly, and 
its recognized success, give one of those incontrovertible arguments which in other 
affairs would bring about a decisive and final state. Summarizing in the work of 
reestablishing public order, there was nothing new, the Filipino people having been, 
accustomed for many years to comply with the law and to maintain its rule almost 
by itself. The Filipino people is old in the practices of a life of progress and order. 
Thus it may be understood how the exercise of the liberty of the press, the liberty 
of association and assembly, the liberty of petition have not produced disturbances 
of any class, nor have grave disturbances been caused by the freedom of religion in, 
a people accustomed to profess the religion of the state, and with a great majority 
belonging to a single religion. Guided by its profound good sense and the experi- 
ence of freer people, there was settled in the courts, and not outside of them, those 
contentions as to ecclesiastical property, the defense of whose possession and control 
would have shaken in other places, we are certain, the foundations of society. In, 
the midst of the revolution the people knew by itself how to maintain order and 
respect property in those towns where there was lacking a local government, due. 
to the capture thereof by American troops and the abandonment thereof a little- 
later by them, and consequently lacking the safeguards either of a Philippine gov-, 
ernment or of an American government. The fact that a great deal of the merit of 
completely reestablishing public order in the Philippines may justly be attributed, 
to the local authority, to the people itself, should carry great weight with those who 



SPECIAL REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP WAR. 69 

honestly, but with little knowledge of conditions, constantly epeak of the ignorance 
of the Philippine people and of their lack of qualifications to maintain a govern- 
ment of law and order, but produces no great efiect with those who are more familiar 
with our conditions and know perfectly that nothing of this is new among us. 

A stronger argument is supplied by the appropriate use of the suffrage, efficiency 
of Philippine officials, elective as well as appointive, and the success of local gov- 
ernments. We doubt if there are people who exercise the suffrage with the saine 
purity and order as the Filipino people. We are sure that the efficiency of our public 
officials passes the most rigorous test. It is not ours, but American and foreign opinion 
which places our tribunals of justice at the highest level. And just as in the exer- 
cise of the suffrage, however great were the limitations under the past domination 
placed on our initiatives and the free manifestation of civic virtues, in the local 

fovernments of modern type implanted in the Philippines during this regime, there 
ave been given those clear demonstrations of political experience that prove that 
the progress and the condition of instruction of the people can not be judged solely 
by the data that the census may give with reference to literacy, and that true political 
experience depends as much on the opportunities given to the people as those high 
virtues, valor, energy, discretion, and patriotism, which are the fruit of civilization, 
and are not the exclusive patrimony of any race. 

Where fear would appear better founded is in the establishment of a popular assem- 
bly. The Filipinos, it was said, have not had any parliamentary experience. _ There 
were not lacking persons who, having superficially studied history and finding that 
the life of some parliaments had been worked out through centuries, exacted as an 
essential condition for the success of parliamentary liberty centuries of experience. 
On the other hand, elections for delegates to the Assembly had been very bitter and 
the triumphant party with an immense majority was the radical party, the defender 
of immediate independence, which had had little contact with the present regime, 
and which had not intervened, except when the people was called to deposit its 
votes. 

Contrary to all the fears, contrary to all prejudice and suspicion, the Philippine 
Assembly was inaugurated on the 16th of October, 1907, and its organization was 
immediately made effective. The organization was completed in forty minutes. 
When ther6 is considered the inherent difficulties in the organization of an assembly, 
When it is taken into account the difficult experience of the older parliaments, when 
the recent experience of Cuba is brought to mind, calm and reflection permit us to 
appreciate all the success of this decisive step taken by the Filipino people. 

The practical sense of the Assembly is singularly revealed in the type of organiza- 
tion adopted. It is easy to understand that the representatives of the people having 
united for the first time, many of them coming from the provinces most remote from 
^he capital, and the country being without fixed precedents, each one would bring a 
private opinion as to organization. Finally, there was adopted the type of organiza- 
tion of the Congress of the United States, which, as was seen later, was most adapted to 
our interests. Probably there was considered in this selection the idea that in this 
manner, selecting a type that was familiar to Congress, the latter might judge of the 
labor of the Assembly with greater facility and accuracy. It was not the most appro- 
piriate to deliver long and sterile orations and provoke in the Assembly those debates 
that are so frequent in other countries, and which, though they result in a very inter- 
esting spectacle for those that have no interest in the success of the organization, 
injure on the other hand the seriousness of an assembly and necessarily delay the 
prompt and proper dispatch of business. The lines of discretion and seriousness 
that the delegates adopted then in their deliberations and debates show that their 
intention on adopting the American rule was that of abolishing all unnecessary diffi- 
culty and to proceed with resolution and expedition in the transaction of the impor- 
tant business in its charge. The Filipino delegates were not ignorant of the defects 
which, among the advantages of regulations formed through patriotism, wisdom, and 
experience, appear, as in all human work, in the organization of the Congress of the 
United States, but placed the application of the rules in the hands of persons who 
knew how to interpret at the same time the true needs of the Assembly and its senti- 
ments. There was named as president of the committee on rules a member of the 
Assembly, and not the speaker, and the theory of good democracy applied t:o_ the 
dispatch of the business of the assembly gave as a result that initiative which received 
a stimulus, and all the legislative business was regularly and promptly dispatched. 
The fact that the majority of the Assembly composed more _ than four-fifths of the 
membership, served to show the liberality and patriotism of its members, and there 
was conceded to the minority in spite of this not only representation in all of the com- 
mittees, but the chairmanship of several of them. There were associated all and 
were excluded none from the labor of the Assembly; thus there was recognized and pro- 



70 SPECIAL KEPOBT OF THE SECRETAEY OF WAR. 

tected the minority and there were likewise fixed the foundations of an organization 
the results of which we are now going to see. 

The Assembly entered boldly on its duties. Without passion and without hatred, 
forgetting that its members belonged to different political parties, that there had been 
a fierce struggle in the elections, there was remembered only that they belonged to a 
common country and the public welfare was a sacred charge placed in its hands. The 
highest feeling of responsibility, that responsibility of which the Filipino people had 
given so many and such great proofs in other moments of its history, accompanied 
the Assembly in its tasks. Its legislative work has been fruitful and the scalpel of 
study and criticism penetrated from the little local details to the organization of the 
central government. The task of fixing the budget was approached vigorously and 
there were presented proposals to simplify the present organization of the central 
government. Without systematic opposition, projects were defeated considered 
prejudicial to the people or that infringed its rights. Nothing indicates better the 
character of the First Assembly than the constructive tendency of its laws, and this 
merit, singular in a new legislative body, would meritwithout doubt the close considera- 
tions and lengthy study of those who may or must judge of the capacity of the Fili- 
pinos for the management of their own affairs. 

Nothing was forgotten, and the resolutions of the Assembly making a public declara- 
tion of the sentiments of the people to live a free and independent life, are a monument 
to its loyalty and it civicism. It is not true that some of the political parties repre- 
sented in the Assembly have made concrete promises of immediate independence if 
its members reached the Assembly, and the only thing which sustained it and which 
now sustains it is that the Filipino people desire it. The policy of the Assembly 
was conducted within the amplest tolerance and the best feeling of intelligence and 
cooperation, and this was done not because within or without the Assembly the 
Filipino people had renounced its ideals, but because it was believed that such policy 
would be, among other measures, a proper argument to show the justice of such ideals. 
In this manner when the party that obtained the majority in the first elections again 
presented itself to the people in the electoral campaign which preceded the Second 
Assembly, it received the most sincere and complete approval of the people, which 
elected a more considerable majority in its favor than in the past. 

Education, material improvements, agriculture, industry and commerce, public 
health, local governments, labor — everything which has been under the considera- 
tion of the assembly received immediate and efficient attention. Two very notable- 
tendencies of the legislation passed are, first, the profoundly democratic sense which 
was shown from the first instance in the law appropriating a million pesos for the schools, 
and in the law governing labor accidents; and second, the character of stability brought 
to the legislative sphere and appropriately shown in the law which provided for the 
revision of all the codes and the compilation of the infinite number of administrative 
laws now in force. When there is seen and judged with eyes free from all prejudice 
the result of the Philippine Assembly, which has fully justified the hopes of those 
that vouched for it and were responsible to Congress for its establishment, and when 
are considered the tremendous difficulties that in the advance of the liberty of all 
countries accompany the organization and operation of popular assemblies, in the 
serene judgment of all impartial and just men there must necessarily be admitted 
the basis on which the Filipino people rests in insisting on their demands which 
adversity and mishaps fortify and solidify, to possess the high attributes and assume 
the grave responsibilities of a sovereign free and independent government. 

III. 

Alleged Obstacles to Independence: Their Consideration. 

There are some objections that the statesmen responsible for the present policy of 
the United States in the Philippines have presented to the natural ambition of Fili- 
pinos possessing an independent self-government. These objections are summarized 
briefly in the lack of preparation of the Filipinos for the exercise of the responsibilities 
and powers inherent in such governments on account of defective conditions, some 
inherent and others transitory, presented by the present state of Philippine civiliza- 
tion, or the nature of the Filipinos. Whether these objections have or not a solid 
foundation to deny or defer the transfer to the Filipinos of political control of their 
own affairs, is what we will consider in this chapter. 

It is to be lamented, nevertheless, that the progress of political science has not 
established definitely the conditions of preparation which people require to be able 
to govern themselves, since the lack of common rule makes it little less than impossi- 
ble to know if a given people has or not the necessary conditions to maintain an 



SPECIAL REPORT OP THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 71 

independent government. Independent nations present such different conditions, 
such contradictory systems of government, vices and virtues so different, languages, 
customs, and usages so varied, that truly we can not know to a certainty what are the 
conditions which exist in independent nations and which are lacking in the Filipino 
people. This will necessarily limit our study solely to those conditions or defects 
of our people, or of our civilization, that are mentioned by those who are interested 
in not conceding independence to the Filipinos. 

In the declarations made authoritatively of the American policy in the Philippine 
Islands, there has been frequently stated the belief that the islands would be delivered 
to a bloody and horrible chaos if they should be left to their fate, that the United 
States has the duty of educating the ignorant masses of the people until they can 
know their civil rights and sustain them against the abuses of the superior classes, 
and exercise with certainty their political rights, that if the islands should now be 
left to the Filipinos, the probable result would be the organization of an oppressive 
and cacique oligarchy, which would exploit the inferior masses and that the educated, 
as well as the ignorant masses of the Filipino people must be educated in the practice 
of political power, of which they have not had experience, until the Filipino people 
shows itself reasonably fit to control a popular government, maintaining law and 
preserving order and offering to the rich and poor the same protection of the laws 
and of civil rights. 

DISORDER AND CHAOS. 

The first point we must study, because it is the most important condition in the life 
of an independent government, is the question of order and the method of preserving 
it. The causes which are indicated as likely to generate a condition of anarchy, the 
government being in the hands of the Filipinos, are: (a) That in all periods and from 
the earliest days of Philippine civilization there have existed in the islands bands of 
ladrones who infest the provinces and control pacific residents and the forces of the 
government; (fe) that the profound ignorance of the masses constitutes a constant 
danger to public tranquillity; (c) that the irresponsible power of the caciques over their 
ignorant fellow-citizens would always be used in cases of discontent for purposes of 
vengeance and to destroy the peace. Before beginning to consider these character- 
istics, which are believed peculiar to the present state of the country, we take note of 
what many impartial observers have written concerning the character of the Filipino 
people. The Filipino people, according to these observers, who have associated 
familiarly with them, is pacific by temperament, is inclined to peace, is patient, and 
at times even indolent in seeking reparation for offenses committed against them 
when they may be borne. This opinion is proven by history. In the long period 
of Spanish domination history scarcely records a few local disturbances; not one had a 
general character, except the revolution of 1896, which reappeared in 1898, and which 
as known was based on political motives. 

During the period of the revolutionary government no grave disturbances occurred 
affecting the interior order of the provinces comprehended within the jurisdiction of 
Aguinaldo's government. Nothing then may be feared with respect to the public order 
and public tranquillity which may come from a natural propensity in the inhabitants 
of the islands for disorder and revolution, as occurs in many countries of Latin origin. 

The existence of certain bands of robbers, few in number, and disturbing few prov- 
inces during the Spanish Government, were the consequences of temporary causes 
arising from the deficiencies of the political system in force in the islands and from 
the condition of poverty which prevailed among the common mass of the people. 
The rural inhabitants of the Phillipine Islands were unarmed against the violators 
of order, and the guardia civil which was spread throughout the provinces was insuffi-" 
cient to protect the inhabitants of the remote barrios. The terror of the guardia civil 
and the crimes it committed against defenseless residents tended rather to augment 
the number of robbers than to suppress them. The lack of means of defense and 
protection m_ust always constitute a cause of public insecurity, because it is not prac- 
ticable to require the residents of a neighborhood to defend themselves against the 
wicked members of the community who have arms and resources dangerous to their 
lives and properties. The condition of order during the present sovereignty improved' 
only when the constabulary could be concentrated in a sufficient number in one or a 
few provinces to encourage the people to pursue robbers and to terrorize and scatter 
the latter by their presence. The only measure consequently to remedy such unfor- 
tunate condition is to distribute among the people sufficient arms to resist and destroy . 
individuals who are members of such bands. Failing in this, the same state of things 
which formerly existed will still exist in those neighborhoods in which the police 
force is not sufficiently efficient by number or by arms to prevent the temporal^: 
formation of bands of three or more persons devoted to robbery and violence, especially. ■ 



72 SPECIAL KEPORT OP THE SECRETARY OP WAR. 

in the years of bad rice crops, because then hunger reduces to a truly miserable con- 
dition numbers of the residents of the mountains without other resources. 

It is not to be assumed, however, that the same causes which brought about the 
forming of bands of robbers in former times would be revived under the government 
of the Filipinos. As a fact, such bands were dissipated during the government of 
Aguinaldo. The right to bear arms would doubtless be one of the rights which would 
be recognized under an independent government, and this would give to each com- 
munity practical means of protecting its lives and interests against those persons 
prejudicial to the same. These would tend to cease their evil habits or would be 
exterminated in one manner or another, since there would be no other alternative. 
The misery of the common mass which contributed and contributes now to the forma- 
tion of such bands would have to be effectively improved through suitable legisla- 
tion which would give to the poor facility to acquire their lands and cultivate them. 

An eloquent proof of the good disposition of the people toward preservation of order 
under normal circumstances was the organization of the bands which operated during 
the Spanish sovereignty. These were selected from the common people of the munici- 
palities. They performed service by day in the municipality and watched by night 
at points outlying the resident section for the public security. They received no 
salary except equipment and clothing. Their duties were, when occasion necessi- 
tated, though badly armed, to seek and pursue evildoers, fight these, and arrest them. 
They successfully performed these duties. The men of the towns accompanied on 
many occasions these bands for such purposes. It is not less indicative of the spirit 
of order and discipline of the people that there are communities which have barely 
two or three policemen to guard the jail and maintain order. The lack of these is not 
felt on days of great feasts and crowds. 

The danger of disorder feared is as small as remote. 

IGNORANCE AS A MENACE TO ORDER, 

There is pointed out as another of the grave menaces which might constitute a 
^constant danger to order the ignorance of the Philippine masses who speak only one 
"of the 15 or 16 Malay dialects, each one of which contains a very limited vocabulary 
which offers no means of communication with modern thought and civilization. 

We do not desire in any way to deny that there really exists among the Filipino 
people persons not educated in schools. No one laments this situation like the 
Filipinos themselves — a situation due to causes altogether foreign to their will. Nev- 
ertheless, while it may be said that there are some illiterate people not prepared in 
the schools, it can not be said that the people is profoundly ignorant. From the fact 
that there are people who do not know how to read and write does not necessarily 
indicate that the community in which they live does not know the rights and duties 
appropriate to a civilized community. 

Let us take as an example one of those rural communities of the islands far distant 
from centers of commerce and education. It is a community that lives pacifically, 
has a religion (the Christian), and practices its creed. Each individual constructs 
his home and works a piece of ground and sows what is necessary for his living. His 
house is small, but he keeps it clean, as well as its surrounding lot. He lives from 
fishing or agriculture. He does not rob or steal or kill or molest any of his neighbors. 
He receives the stranger cordially and shares with him all the resources that his natural 
hospitality permits. He pays a teacher for his children or sends them to the public 
school of the town. He recognizes his public authorities, to whom he appeals on all 
occasions when he receives some injury or other, pays his tax religiously when required 
to do BO by the agent of the municipal authority. The community scarcely requires 
police because order is very rarely disturbed. All live in the greatest satisfaction, 
without passions, without struggle, in the midst of an enviable harmony. 

We can not say that a community that lives thus is profoundly ignorant and might 
place in danger the security and order of the state on account of its ignorance. If ,we 
compare this community with other Filipino communities which form the munici- 
palities and the provinces of the Archipelago and present the same sketch and char- 
acters, with the only difference that there are in these a greater proportion of instructed 
persons, we can not see any danger to order in confiding to such communities the 
government of their own interests. It is flattering to be able to say that the truth is 
that the so-called ignorant mass of our people so unjustly treated by our critics is 
sufficiently instructed in its duties of man and of citizen, and we are certain from what 
occurred during the revolutionary period that with the independence of the country 
there would be again awakened in it that stimulus to greater progress, well-being, and 
liberty that collective conscience and that spirit of responsibility of which it has given 
60 many and such eloquent proofs. 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 73 

Furthermore, the causes which under the past sovereignty produced the present 
condition of education in the people are sufficiently known, and likewise well known 
are the methods which should be employed to more generally spread instruction 
among the masses most needing it. It is reasonable to suppose that whatever govern- 
ment the Filipinos may have will give all possible opportunities to all the classes of the 
people to educate themselves in the schools. The Filipino people, as has been said 
in another place, is glad to instruct itself in all branches of human knowledge. It is 
not necessary that it be compelled to this. In the official reports there is noted with 
true satisfaction the natural inclination displayed by the Filipinos for education, the 
poorest families sending their children to school. There has been a constant increase 
in the number of children atteuding the public and private schools, so that in this year 
it may be reckoned that nearly 700,000 children and youths are receiving an education 
in the different public and private schools established throughout the archipelago. 

The Philippine Assembly has always been ready to make large appropriations for 
the bureau of education, and this certainly indicates that if the country were inde- 
pendent the Philippine government would place all its interest in increasing and 
spreading instruction among the masses, not only because it would understand that 
this was its responsibility, but likewise because it would recognize the advisability of 
having the people instructed in order that the nation might be solid and strong. The 
Philippine government would be in possession of power to save a great part of the 
present budget destined to salaries and expend such savings in paying school-teachers 
and constructing school buildings in order that the progress of education might be 
more rapid daily in the islands. 

There exists, then, in our opinion no reason whatever to fear the imagined dangers 
that the present state of education of the people might offer to the permanent establish- 
ment of public order under an independent government. Above the subtle conven- 
tionalisms of nations which, in spite of all, have never been able to fix with precision 
and uniform judgment when a people is sufficiently educated to be independent or 
when not, it is certain that there exists here a people old in the practices of civilized 
life, lovers of home and property, and enthusiastic for education and progress, obeyers 
of the law, all of which, far from being a danger to order, is its ffi-mest and most secure 
foundation. 

"caciquism" and oligarchy. 

There is likewise pointed out as another obstacle to good order and the establishment 
of democratic institutions and principles the so-called "caciquism" dominant in the 
country. There is mentioned the fact that in the rural municipalities of the Philip- 
pines the whole people is completely subject to the will of some educated person of 
alert intelligence living in the community, who knows the local dialect and who 
desires or knows how to excite the fears or the cupidity of his neighbors to organize a 
party to resist imaginary wrongs or oppression, in order to satisfy veiigance or to obtain 
a livelihood without labor. There is said in proof of this that the history of the revolu- 
tion and of the state of disorder which followed it is full of examples in which the 
simple country people incited by the local caciques have committed the most horrible 
crimes of torture and assassination, and when the authors have been arrested and 
prosecuted they have simply replied that the caciques of the locality had ordered 
them to commit the crime. There is mentioned likewise that with great frequency 
the presidente and other officials of the town make use of their offices to subject the 
ignorant residents of their respective towns to their control in the sa,le of agricultural 
products. The official acts as an intermediary in the sale and takes the greater part of 
the products of the person he represents. It is likewise alleged that caciquism is 
revealed in the most flagrant form when the Philippine municipal officials, and even 
provincial officials, are invested with governmental power over non-Christian tribes 
or over others that are not of their own race distributed through the Christian Philip- 
pine provinces. It is said that the people of these tribes are victims of abuse and 
oppression on the part of such Philippine officials. 

The series of acts mentioned which show the existence of the so-called "caciquism" 
in the Philippine Islands is not truly the result solely of the state of education of the 
masses, but a natural product of the perversity of man of whatever time and whatever 
race. The instinct of profiting at the expense of one's neighbor or of satisfying certain 
passions and taking advantages of other men who may be convinced or seduced is 
not only a quality peculiar to Filipinos, but a universal human sentiment. This 
instinct naturally reveals itself in clifferent forms according to the condition of the 
various societies, but in one form or another it exists among all people, whether they 
are civilized or not. He who considers himself stronger will always try to obtain some 
profit if he can from the weaker whether this one be ignorant or not. 



Ti SPECIAL KEPOET OP THE SECRETARY OP AVAR. 

The facts mentioned are not, however, very general nor are they of such gravity as 
those that occur in more civilized countries. The examples of caciques who have 
ordered the assassination or the torture of hostile persons are exceptionally rare, or so 
little known that there has not reached our knowledge specific cases registered in the 
tribunals of justice. The abuses by officials who take advantage of their official 
influence to serve as middlemen for some ignorant persons in the sale of their products, 
aside from being few, are assuredly less scandalous than those which are told of 
officials of independent countries who enter into illicit combinations to permit gam- 
bling houses or houses of prostitution, in the profits of which they participate. 

We are not trying by this statement to apologize for these abusive acts, but the fact 
that they are committed, not only in this country but in all countries, although they 
wear different forms or aspects in each one of them, brings us to a conclusion, and it is 
this: That because this evil exists in the Philippine Islands is not a reason for failing 
to concede independence to the Filipinos. The belief that caciquism in the islands 
may constitute a grave danger to order is not sustained by the facts. There is nothing 
in the facts before mentioned and in those which the action of the caciques show which 
can not be corrected by the action of the courts or of the executive. It would be there- 
fore extravagant to believe that the Filipino government would lack means or suffi- 
cient resources to punish the abuses or the disturbances which local caciquism may 
occasion. It would not be an error to suppose that the government being in the hands 
of the Filipinos and there being established naturallj^ greater confidence between 
the people and the government that any act of caciquism would be more promptly 
denounced and consequently punished. 

In relation to the existence of caciquism which thrives as is believed because the 
mass of the people is profoundly ignorant, there is likewise expressed the idea that 
in. case of constituting an independent government the educated mass which would 
form the government would make of this an oligarchy which would tend to oppress 
and exploit the ignorant mass. In other words, it would be a government of caciquism. 
It would not be possible to ignore this fact, that by the force of circumstances and in 
virtue of our sociological conditions, th€ government must be in a certain manner 
in the hands of the most capable and intelligent group having knowledge of the 
science of government and of society. But far from this being an evil, if this group 
is to be the element favoring modern ideas always inspired in good and in the interest 
of the community, if it is to guide the others to conduct them to the object of their 
aspirations for progress and well-being through the means most appropriate and suit- 
able to it and in the final analysis, it will be but the most faithful and suitable instru- 
ment of the will of the majority, there would be no mistake in placing on its shoulders 
the responsibility of a sovereign people. 

There is likewise sufficient evidence showing that the people are educated in the 
practices of equality and democracy; that there will be no danger whatever of the 
interested and wicked preponderance of a determined group called caciquism or 
directing. There exists the positive and certain fact — that exactly the so-called caci- 
quism group, responding to the desires of the entire body, has realized and is realizing 
the work of lifting up the spirit of the most humble masses, of aiding them to proceed 
in the road of progress and prosperity, of increasing the love of country and liberty. 
From this, one might infer that on establishing the Philippine government the directive 
group would feel certainly the pressure of the advantage of educating all the masses, 
because the first work of the government would be to strengthen the nation in the 
interior and exterior and there would be recognized that public instruction is the most 
solid basis of a nation's strength. 

RELATIONS BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND NONCHRISTIANS. 

The fact that there have occurred examples of abuse and oppression by Filipinos in 
office of persons belonging to the non-Christian tribes does not indicate a general policy, 
nor is it the general treatment extended by Christian people to the non-Christian tribes. 
The reference to these abuses seems to indicate the belief that the Christian people in 
their relation with the non-Christian people would not be disposed to give. to the latter 
a just and liberal treatment, which would tend to lift them to the grade of civilization 
acquired by the Christian people. Nothing, however, can present with less accuracy 
the point of view and the intention which animates the Christian people with respect 
to those who are not so. The inhabitants of the Christian provinces, as we have stated 
elsewhere, understand that the non-Christian. tribes are a very important and valuable 
factor, not only for the population but likewise for the defense of the common country. 
The variety of people which inhabits the islands and speak different dialects with 
distinct religious creeds and customs, are susceptible of forming a true homogeneous 
unit, which they now have, through ethical reasons, assisted by the chains of common 



SPECIAL EEPOBT OF THE SECKETAE.Y OF WAR. *?5 

interests and ideals for the objects of progress and civilization. The belief that there 
is a true rivalry and hatred between the Christian and non-Christian people has been 
almost always exaggerated; nothing, however, is falser than this opinion. The simple 
knowledge of the non-Christian tribes of the establishment of the Filipino government 
in Malolos produced a distinct approximation in the ideas and relations of the Christian 
and non-Christian people, the latter having presented themselves spontaneously to 
the authorities of said government, giving it loyal support and recognition. There is 
too the fact that some Christians of Luzon and Visayas have established themselves in 
Moro territory or in various "rancherias" that live in the mountains from which the 
most skillful have succeeded in acquiring greater or less fortune. 

The true reason for the dissatisfaction and differences existing between the non- 
Christian people and the Christian people is based rather on the fact that the non- 
Christian people believe the Christians allied with the foreign government, anxious 
to pervert them with a change of their religious beliefs. But religious intolerance 
having disappeared, the principal factor which caused the existing differences between 
the two, it will not be difficult to convince the non-Christian people of the islands of the 
benefits of living under a common regime with the inhabitants of the Christian prov- 
inces. We are convinced that a Filipino government is the only one that could reach 
in a permanent manner and without violence a definite understanding with the non- 
Christian communities of the islands, because the latter in spite of the differences of 
religion and customs, would not oppose, nor could they oppose, the influence of the 
ethnical unity and relationship. This circumstance gives to the Christian Filipinos 
the advantage of a better knowledge of the psychology of their non-Christian com- 
patriots and teaches them the road most appropriate and the measures most suitable 
to reach the intelligence and hearts of the said compatriots and to establish with them 
the relationship which tends to consolidate national unity. 

LITTLE POLITICAL EXPERIENCE, 

The little political experience of the Filipinos, acquired under the Spanish Govern- 
ment, has constantly been a theme touched upon to refuse the national aspirations of 
the Filipinos. But if it be considered that the nations, whatever be their race or creed 
of humanity, have only gained complete experience through direct and absolute con- 
trol in the management and government of their interests, such argument loses a great 
part of its force and strength. Experience in life and in business certainly comes in 
no other manner but in daily contact with the men or with the interests which are 
managed. The United States has not gained experience to manage the affairs of a 
federation, except since the old Britannic colonies declared themselves independent 
and constituted such form of government. We are convinced that the Filipinos must 
likewise expect more complete experience to direct and administer their national 
affahs after they are independent. The Filipinos have gained, doubtless, greater 
experience than they had in the past domination in municipal and provincial affairs, 
because they have been placed face to face with the responsibilities and difficulties 
of i)ractice in such affairs. Experience in the control of affairs which we would call 
national it may be said they have not had during the present regime, or if they have 
had, it is as an experience purely theoretical. So that if the laws which govern the 
present system are to continue permanently, the Filipinos would experience the same 
results which they had with the Spanish Government as to practical political education. 

The Filipinos acquired much more experience and education during the epoch of 
the so-called government of the Filipino republic than in any time before or since the 
American occupation. The succinct relation that we made in the first chapter of the 
provisions and regulations adopted by that government shows that the governmental 
practice of the Filipinos does not differ much from the experience of the old nations. 
This historic fact serves to demonstrate that political experience may be gained either 
by independent effort or by the experience of others. 

The colonial experience of the United States has occurred only since the war with 
Spaia. The political experience of American statesmen has been limited before this 
time to domestic affairs. When the American nation, through the declaration of their 
prominent men, and in other ways, congratulates itself in saying that its colonial 
administration of the new people, subject to its domination, has been carried on with 
success, we can not do less than infer from this the truth from our point of view that a 
previous practical experience is not necessary to a country when it shows good judg- 
ment and disposition in other affaks to obtain the success of an undertaking. 

We are glad to be able to say that the good sense and the good disposition shown by 
the Filipino people in adapting its life and customs to the practice of the civilized 
nations of Europe and America permit the well-founded hope that with this actual 
practical experience it will have success in its work in the experiment of an inde- 
pendent government. 



76 SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 

A COMMON LANGUAGE. 

The lack of a common language spoken and written in the relations of the Filipinos 
among themselves has been likewise mentioned a number of times in discussijig the 
problem of our independence. It has caused the teaching of English in the schools 
and its diffusion by all possible means among different people of the country, with the 
object that the Filipino people may acquire not only a common medium of communi- 
cation but likewise the advantages that the possession of the English language would 
give for commerce and the study of free institutions. 

The existence of various dialects within a single country is certainly an impediment 
to easy communications, and to the communication of thought and word between men 
of the same country, but the fact that there exists a like condition in many independent 
nations of old Europe makes us believe that it is not an indispensable condition to the 
independence of nations. 

The number of dialects of the country, and the importance of the difficulties which 
this variety of dialects creates has been much exaggerated. But to be accurate, we 
must say that properly there are three dialects: one which dominates in the north, 
that is the Ilocano; another that dominates in the center, that is the Tagalog; and 
another that dominates in the south, that is the Visayan. The other dialects are 
varieties of one of these three principal ones, so that after a period of a few weeks in a 
place the Filipinos may speak and understand the dialect of the locality. 

IV. 

Obstacles to the Indefinite Retention op the Islands Preparatory to their 

Independence. 

The present policy was explained by President Taft in his special report as Secre- 
tary of War to the President relating to the Philippine Islands, dated the 23d of Janu- 
ary, 1908, as follows: 

"I do not see how any more definite policy can be declared than was declared by 
President McKinley in his instructions to Secretary Root for the guidance of the 
Philippine Commission, which was incorporated into law by the organic act of the 
Philippine government, adopted July 1, 1902. That policy is declared to be the 
extension of self-government to the Philippine Islands by gradual steps from time to 
time as the people of the islands shall show themselves fit to receive the additional 
responsibility, and that policy has been consistently adhered to in the last seven years 
now succeeding the establishment of civil government. 

******* 

"It necessarily involves in its ultimate conclusion as the steps toward self-govern- 
ment become greater and greater the ultimate independence of the islands, although, 
oi course, if both the United States and the islands were to conclude after complete 
self-government were possible that it would be mutually beneficial to continue a 
governmental relation between them like that between England and Australia there 
would be nothing inconsistent with the present policy in such a result. 

******* 

"Any attempt to fix the time in which complete self-government may be conferred 
upon the Filipinos, in their own interest, is, I think, most unwise. The key of the 
whole policy outlined by President McKinley and adopted by Congress was that of the 
education of the masses of the people and the leading them out of the dense ignorance 
in which they are now, with a view to enabling them intelligently to exercise the force 
of public opinion without which a popular self-government is impossible." 

This policy nevertheless has not yet been sanctioned by Congress in all its parts. 
Congress, which is the power in which resides the regulation of affairs referring to the 
Philippine Islands, has until the present refused to express its opinion with reference 
to the future political status of the islands. 

CONTRARY OPINIONS AND POSITIONS. 

This indefiniteness as to the political future of the country results in two contrary 
movements of opinion as well among Americans as among Filipinos : some who believe 
that independence must be conceded after some years, and others who believe that 
it is never to be conceded. The doubts which arise from this state of indefiniteness 
result in all and each one working without a fixed direction, producing a lack of 
general agreement, which is far from favoring the progress and well-being of all the 
residents of the islands. In the attitude, idea, and actions of many Americans in the 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OP WAR. 7*? 

islands appears to be indicated the conviction held by them that the Filipinos are 
not to be, nor will ever be, independent; that the American flag will never be lowered 
there, where it has once waved. So that, notwithstanding the repeated declarations 
made by high authorities in the United States that the government implanted in the 
islands is for the interest and benefit of the Filipinos, there are many American resi- 
dents of the islands who conduct themselves in the contrary sense, animated appar- 
ently with the idea that the government has been established here exclusively for 
their interest and benefit. It is observed, for example, that there are few Americans 
of those who come to the islands who have endeavored to intimately know the Fili- 
pinos or to gain the friendship of the latter, by socially and personally uniting with 
them, but many of them have displayed egotistic and personal motives; sometimes 
publicly indicating that the Americans have come to the islands to better their purses 
and interests, and at other times depreciating the association of the Filipinos, or in a 
thousand ways treating them depreciatingly. Few of the Americans who deal with 
the Filipinos can hear with calmness the demands of the Filipinos for their independ- 
ence, but many of them laugh jokingly at it as at a thing impossible. On the other 
hand, the Filipinos who accept in good faith and sincerity the carrying out of this 
policy, in view of those examples given by the Americans, can with difficulty induce 
a ray of hope into the minds of their compatriots, and not a few come to establish in 
their minds the belief that the American Government is not disposed to specify to- 
day or at any time the political aspirations of the Filipinos. 

HARMONY AND GOOD UNDERSTANDING MADE DIFFICULT. 

From this naturally come many difficulties which do not contribute to create that 
healthful harmony, that close relation, between Americans and Filipinos which is 
necessary for the fulfilling of the mission which the American people desires to fill 
with respect to the natives of the islands. The American Government needs the 
cooperation of the people, needs the support of the Filipinos to convince the country as 
to the generous and altruistic designs which have moved it to remain in the islands, 
but every day the Filipino politicians are denounced to the government as propa- 
gators of evil doctrines; as obstacles to the execution of the plans of the government; 
as hostile to the sovereignty and mission of North America in the islands; in general, as 
the most dangerous enemies of its own people. It would even seem that there is an 
effort to make the govermnent believe that it should suspect all Filipino politicians; 
that ear should not be given to their proposals and complaints; that it should entirely 
ignore them or do the contrary of what they ask or propose, because in this manner they 
might administer more justly and efficaciously the interests of the people in these 
islands. In this manner the labor of the government for a closer union with the 
people is strongly embarrassed on the one side by the voice of a portion of the American 
press which clamors constantly against the policy and the Philippine politicians, and 
on the other side by the voice of a portion of the Filipino press which, rendered hostile 
by that, considers it necessary to take the defense of the Filipinos, censuring the 
Americans, and making them responsible for the violation of its own principles and 
policy in the islands. 

There is observed on this account frequently a low struggle of individuals whose 
judgments are engaged in presenting an antagonism of interest between American and 
Filipino people, relaxing the bonds of cordial and mutual intelligence which the gov- 
ernment extremely desires to see established. The efforts of men of good faith of both 
people are always directed in avoiding the breaking out of this struggle, of the reestab- 
lishing in a short time courtesy and mutual consideration. The frequent injiuy that 
this occasions in the cordiality of the relations of the Filipino people and government 
is great. Meantime, the govermnent can not remain aloof from this struggle, and as it 
is composed in its majority of Americans it is obliged to act in accord with the domi- 
nating spirit in the American community. From which, in their turn, the Filipinos 
complain and form among themselves the opinion that the government does not 
listen to the voice of the Filipinos, but g.ves consideration only to the interests and 
satisfaction of the Americans. 

DIFFICULTIES IN ADMINISTRATION. 

The difficulties of administering the interests of a completely different race are 
revealed by the fact that the govermnent judges many times very erroneously the 
attitude of the people and its representatives, and in its turn the people misunder- 
stands the intentions and dispositions of the government. In 1902 there appeared for 
the first time since the American occupation cholera in Manila and the surrounding 
provinces. The government was obliged to adopt precautions and measures to protect 
the health of the inhabitants. There was put in force various regulations drawn up to. 
avoid the propagation of the evil and there was increased the number of the sanitary 



t^ SPECIAL REPOET OF THE SECEETARY OP WAE. 

corps who had to carry into effect said regulations. The people was not accustomed 
to the methods adopted and believed itself persecuted by the representatives of the 
government and refused, in many cases, to submit to the methods prescribed by the 
official science. The violence in the execution and enforcement of such methods 
resulted in the hiding of cases and to secret burial of corpses in such cases. The native 
press criticised some of the regulations emanating from the government and the manner 
of putting them into execution. The government understood then that the repre- 
sentatives of the press were impeding the measures for the repression of the evil until 
the knowledge of some facts made the government understand the necessity of reform- 
ing the processes, and it then took advantage of the cooperation of the Filipinos them- 
selves in the sanitary measures adopted from which were obtained better results. In 
1904 the constabulary was the object of severe criticism on the part of the native press 
for the commission of abuses and other excesses in the performance of its duties. The 
government saw in such criticisms as always a spirit of party and hatred on the part of 
those who criticised the government and its institution. It believed that these 
sympathized with and aided the ladrones who disturbed peace and order. The pub- 
lication of certain facts in El Renacimiento gave rise to a prosecution of this newspaper. 
The evidence in the case proved the commission of acts of violence and torture by 
officials of the constabulary. The court acquitted the editors of El Renacimiento 
and since then the appoinment of the chiefs and officers of said corps are made with 
greater care and there has been observed a higher standard of efficiency in the service 
of the corps and better cooperation of the people with its officers and men. 

These facts serve to illustrate the difference of judgment which always appears 
when a people has not a government composed of men of its own race that can under- 
stand clearly its method of life and peculiar habits. This lack of comprehension by a 
foreign government, aggravated by the difference of language, contributes not a little 
to the fact that the people view with doubt or lack of confidence the acts of said gov- 
ernment. This government needs the faith and the complete confidence of the people 
in order that every one of its acts should be accepted by the people with the satis- 
faction and certainty that it is to better their interests and make them happy and 
prosperous. 

Great principles or great men are not so necessary in order that the administration 
of the interests of a people attain the advancement or well-being of the people, but it 
is absolutely necessary that the people have entire faith in those to whom are confided 
its interests, because without that faith every effort of intention or of act that those 
who govern take will encounter passiveness and indifference on the part of the people. 
In consequence of this our government attributes at times to ignorance or lack of under- 
standing of its own interest the indifference which the people displays toward many 
good acts or laws made in its favor, as, for example, the homestead law. 

POLITICAL ECONOMY. 

These symptoms of doubt manifest themselves markedly in the consideration of 
economic subjects. All Filipinos believe necessary the development of the natural 
resources of its to-day unproductive soil. They understand the necessity of the 
assistance of foreign capital, but they complain at the same time against the policy of 
selling great tracts of land to corporations, against perpetual franchises for railroad 
companies, and against the predominance of corporations and commercial interests; 
and this, which appears a very grave confusion of ideas, has its origin in the rooted 
belief that the futm'e of the people is threatened by the invasion of that capital which, 
once rooted here, will be opposed, when the moment arrives, to all change of sovereignty, 
because it would not believe itself sufficiently secure and protected except under its 
own sovereignty. If this government were the image and work of the people, these 
fears would not be felt and the cries of protest of the present would be converted into 
cries of praise and blessing, because the people would have entire faith and complete 
seciirity that its interests and its future in the hands of such government would be 
under the protection of guaranties such as would permit the development of native 
capital on equal terms with that from abroad. 

It is believed generally among the Filipinos that this government has given no 
attention to favoring with some stimulus the development of Filipino capital and has 
used all its efforts in bringing capital from without for the exploiting of the material 
riches of the country. They feel that this government, which has been established for 
the happiness, peace, and prosperity of the inhabitants of the islands accordingto 
the text of the instructions of McKinley to Secretary of War Root, leaves the Fili- 
pinos abandoned to their fate in the development of their economic interests; does 
not extend its protection to native capital, whether interesting said capital in the 
formation of new industries for which the soil offers rich material, there being given 
some privileges by law, or authorizing facility to Philippine producers and merchants 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF "WAR. f9 

in the prosecution of then." enterprises, or inducing the companies that are formed to 
admit Philippine capital for the agricultural and mining exploitations. The people 
observe that all the preferences and stimulus of the government is kept for foreign 
capital and that the government leaves it unprotected, and it is not to be wondered 
at that the people feels a profound neglect and that it sees itself in advance beaten in 
an unequal economic competition and loses faith in the benevolence of the intentions 
of the government. In the practice of the professions it observes likewise that natives 
of the country are being relegated to the background and that the business is controlled 
by Americans, and that, as in the case of the surveyors, there have been efforts to 
deny to the latter the practice of the profession in what relates to an office of the 
government, and in its profound logic the people have reason to believe that the 
government, far from favoring their economic condition, restrains them without, 
perhaps, wishing to do so. 

The people are convinced that they comply with all their obligations to the gov- 
ernment; that in spite of their poverty they pay annually in taxes ^30,000,000, with 
the object that the government may provide all measm^es and resources to improve 
the economic conditions of the country. The Philippine people nevertheless finds 
itself in the same condition of economic crisis that prevailed under the past domi- 
nation. Failures to pay and requests for deferment of payment of taxes and the sale 
of property for insolvency evidence the deplorable state of the economic interests of 
the Filipinos. The existence and increase of the same ijernicious amusements that 
created such poverty dming the Spanish government and which were abolished 
during the short period of the revolutionary government necessarily accompany such 
a condition. The increase of houses of usury and loan tend to aggravate the situation. 
This, which is so evident to the people, is nevertheless not so to the government. 

The government believes that the people complain as a matter of routine or through 
ignorance of what must be paid for the necessary public services. The government 
shows that the commerce of importation and exportation, which measures the riches 
of a country, is increasing yearly and shows likewise that the rate of contribution 
per capita is considerably lower than in any civilized country. From this it results 
that the people do not understand the government nor the government the people, 
and the two doubt and mistrust each other. 

In such a state of relations, that are the natural consequence of the present regime, 
the faith which has placed America in the administration of the affairs of the Filipinos 
for the happiness, peace, and prosperity of the latter will never see itself realized. 
If there is taken into account, in addition, other organic defects in the present regime 
which prevent the development of the individual and national aptitudes of the 
people of the islands in a state which is supposed to be one of preparation, the claims 
of the Filipinos for the enjoyment of an independent government with the object 
of assuring its own progress and its final well-being would be far more justified. 

UNSUITABLE LEGISLATION. 

The gravest defect of the present system is founded entirely in the lack of confi- 
dence in the capacity of the natives, who are prevented from developing themselves 
by their own methods and are forcibly subject to an exclusively American type. 
Little effort has been placed so that the Filipinos by themselves might form the legis- 
lation with reference to the conditions and customs of the people. The legislation 
now in force has been constructed on purely American lines without exact knowledge 
of the character and peculiarities of the inhabitants of the country. Such legislation 
is not the work and product of circumstances and convenience of this people, but a 
copy and imitation of laws taken from a people with different characteristics and a 
distinct type of civilization. The Philippine Assembly was created after the con- 
struction of this legislation, and whatever effort to reform it in its foundation is 
absolutely nonrealizable through the opposition, at times blind, of the other branch 
of the legislature. It thus happens that some laws are of difficult application to the 
people of these islands. 

LITTLE PRACTICAL EDUCATION. 

In the executive branch is yet more notorious the lack of confidence which is the 
base of the system. The central axle of the administrative organism revolves in 
such a way that it leaves to the Filipinos no opportunity for practice in the conduct 
of public affairs through means of direct contact with the methods of action and 
their difficulties. If it be considered that the basis of the policy followed in the 
Philippine Islands is the preparation of the Filipinos for the exercise of the powers 
of an independent government, it is not seen how under the present system such a 
result may be obtained. For example, nearly all the chiefs of bureaus are Americans, 
as are their principal assistants and local agents; that is, all those who go to form 



80 SPECIAL EEPOET OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 

and direct the plans for the execution of the laws. Few Filipinos, if there are any, 
can by virtue of their offices take part in the determination and regulation of these 
plans. The best education Avould be that which places the Filipinos on the ground 
of reality and places them in contact, by virtue of the duties of their offices, with a 
knowledge of the methods and practical difficulties of the public service. 

INEQUALITY IN THE CIVIL SERVICE. 

From this comes the constant demand of the natives for the Filipinization of the 
public service, but the bureaucratic spirit which is developed necessarily among the 
colonizers in a colony tends to neutralize the results of this demand. The slow course 
that the insular government is adopting to place Filipinos in the offices of high salary 
and responsibility, notwithstanding the merit and the efficiency demonstrated in 
several years of service, is the result of constant employment of Americans who in a 
large number are always awaiting every occasion to occupy the vacancy or promotion 
of other Americans. The Filipinos are placed necessarily in their subordinate and 
assisting posts, and even when many of them are really prepared by experience gained 
through long service in the office and perform the duties performed by the Americans, 
only rarely and by accident are they promoted to the places of the latter. 

The same treatment is not accorded to Americans and Filipinos in the civil service. 
In practice there appear to govern certain rules for Americans, and others for Filipinos. 
The salaries are not the same for one as for the other. The Americans are promoted 
more rapidly than the Filipinos in the same office, and the cases of demotion of the 
Filipinos are frequent. The merit and efficiency of the Filipinos are rated with 
greater rigor than those of the Americans, as well as likewise their failings in the 
service. All this is evidenced manifestly in the material fact that nearly all the 
posts occupied by Americans since the establishment of civil government continue in 
possession of the Americans. 

The increase of Filipino employees each year is only apparent. There is not a 
chief of office who does not place annually in his estimate for expenses a greater sum 
than in the preceding year, and with this augment are created some inferior posts 
that are filled by Filipinos. The number which is set forth in the reports of the civil 
service is the total, and it shows an increase in the number of Filipino employees but 
not a diminution in the number of Americans. If the American policy in this matter 
in establishing the civil service is to educate the Filipino in the sense of responsibility 
in the government, the practice followed, instead of favoring this policy, paralyzes 
it in its educative effects and as a result tends to form a sort of privileged class composed 
solely of Americans. 

GOVERNMENT OP THE NONCHRISTIAN PEOPLE. 

Another grave fault of the present system is having followed the policy of main- 
taining a compleie separation between the Christian and non-Christian people. The 
different tribes which inhabit the mountains of the north of Luzon and the Mohamme- 
dans of Mindanao must form part of the Filipino nation as belonging to the same terri- 
tory and originating from a single ethnical trunk. The separation between these only 
tends to foment a lack of common interest, which creates in its practical results un- 
founded misunderstandings between them. There should be inculcated in the people 
of said tribes the idea that this is a Filipino government, and on that account they 
should become accustomed to see Filipinos at the head of the governments instituted 
among themselves. The concept which actually is imbued in them is that they 
must be protected against the alleged abuses of their own brothers — the Filipinos. 
If the Filipino nation is to govern alone in the future and those who constitute such 
tribes have to form part of said nation, it is necessary to have them look on the Chris- 
tians as brothers, as fellow-citizens with whom they are to live and are to be united 
in a community of culture and aspiration. The Christians, as we said elsewhere, can 
not be assumed to be without all practical sense; that does not appreciate their interest 
in civilizing those non-Christian tribes that are an important factor as well for the 
population as for the defense of the common country. There would certainly not be 
lacking Christian Filipinos of demonstrated executive skill who might govern said 
tribes in accordance with their interest and well-being. The present political and 
administrative organization which separates the Christians from those that are not 
does not tend to the preparation for an independent Philippine government, but to 
prepare for the latter in its day difficulties in its relations with the inhabitants of said 
localities. If the Philippine Assembly could have jurisdiction over the territory 
occupied by the non-Christian tribes and the Moro Province there would be made 
evident the reasonable interest that the Christian people feel for the progress and well- 
being of the non-Christian people. 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 81 

' Conclusion. 

The Philippine Islands were acquii'ed by the United States by virtue of the ces- 
sion made by Spain through an indemnization of ?20,000,000 in accordance with the 
treaty of Paris. On the date that this treaty was signed a great part of the Philippine 
territory was in power of a government organized by the Filipinos. The organiza- 
tion of this government was made with the knowledge, consent, and moral support 
of the Americans. On the opening of the Spanish-American war, Aguinaldo, who 
was considered the leader of the insurrection against Spain in 1896, came from Hong- 
kong in an American transport of war with the object of reopening the revolution 
against Spain, having been induced to believe that he might reckon on the aid of the 
American forces. Although he made no use of the offers that were made to him, prac- 
tically the attitude of the Americans and the relations that Aguinaldo maintained 
with them created the impression that he might consider them as allies. For some 
time the launches and steamers that were at the service of Aguinaldo displayed the 
Filipino flag and were not prevented from circulating in the Bay of Manila and some 
provinces to carry forces and orders to Aguinaldo. 

The 13th day of August, 1898, the city of Manila surrendered and General Merritt, 
as commander of the American forces of occupation, published a proclamation, in one 
of whose paragraphs he said: That he had not come to the islands to take a piece of 
territory. From the date mentioned before and until the 4th of February, 1899, the 
Filipino government maintained cordial relations with the military troops of North 
America, and all of the differences were regulated through official communications of 
the representatives of the two governments. 

These faces are mentioned with the object of showing that the persistency of the 
Filipinos in being independent is bound up in the recollections of that short period 
of their past in which, associated with the Americans, they threw down the secular 
power of a sovereignty and experienced the satisfaction and happiness of governing 
by themselves their interests and their future. Then they understood how satis- 
factory and sweet to the citizens is the yoke imposed by the power of its own laws and 
the government by men of its own race, and how close and loyal is the cooperation 
which exists between people and government to better the interests of the country 
and to enter resolutely and without embarrassment into the wide ways of human 
progress. Then the- Filipinos abandoned all the vicious practices which the former 
sovereignty had extended over all the masses and recovered the good quaHties which 
people free from all yoke possessed. This moved the Filipinos to resist with all their 
force the new American domination, and to submit to it only when they fully under- 
stood that they might be independent in a more or less short period. The efforts of 
the Filipinos in defense of that government, the blood which its soldiers shed, and 
the money which was employed in the service of the Filipino flag, recalls to them con- 
stantly that short period of its happiness and makes them consider the present as a 
temporary situation which they desire to abbreviate as much as possible in order 
to acquire the satisfaction of their national ambitions and their intentions of eleva- 
tion and enrichment of the country. They wish to consider that the American 
people have, been guided providentially to these islands to save its people from op- 
pression; they recognize that the American people has borne itself with liberality 
toward the Filipinos after the latter had been conquered; but they believe at the 
same time that if there existed the providential designs, these have been completely 
realized ; that after twelve years that North America has governed these islands under 
its flag and has made clear to its inhabitants those theories and practices of a free 
people, the Government has terminated its mission with honor and glory for itself in 
these islands and may confide the government to the Filipinos with complete security 
for the interests of the latter and to all those that live in the country. The Filipinos 
at all times have shown a broad sphit of progress, a high interest in assimilating all 
ideas and practices of civilized people, and are not doubtful that they will operate 
in accordance with those ideas and practices on occupying their position among the 
nations of the earth. 

For all these reasons, Mr. Secretary, we respectfully charge you to be the interpre- 
ter of the feelings of the Filipinos to President Taft, to whom we desire to transmit a 
copy of this document, and to the American Congress, to each one of whose members 
we likewise desire to transmit copies of the same. 
Respectfully, 

The Executive Center of ttJe Nacionaijsta Party. 
By Sergio Osmena, President. 
Certified : 

(Maxim iNo Mina, Secretary. 

65874—10 6 



Appendix D. 

[Translation.] 

Memorandum from Both Political Parties. 

Manila, September 1, 1910. 
Mr. Secretary: We have the honor to send attached hereto a memorandum that 
contains, in synthesis, some of the subjects of which we treated extensively in our 
conferences with you. On these subjects the two Philippine political parties, the 
" Nacionalista " and the "Nacional Progresista," are in complete accord, and the 
executive committees of said parties have authorized and ordered us to submit the 
present. 

Allow us, Mr. Secretary, to be, 

Very respectfully, yours, Lajos, 

President Nacionalista Party. 
V. SiNGSON Encarnacion, 



Hon. Jacob McG. Dickinson, 

Sea'etary of War of the United States. 



President Progresista Party. 



[Translation.] 

WE NEED A CONSTITUTION. 

Whatever may be the ultimate and definite political status of the country, and 
whether independence come now or later, it is evident that the Philippine people 
need a constitution right now. Not to make this an ultimate aspiration, but in order 
to obtain immediately and by means thereof a safeguard for the rights and liberties 
of the people. 

A fundamental law, enacted by the people, has in all times been a supreme necessity 
among all free peoples. As Lord Bryce says, the constitutions of the States are the 
most ancient documents of the political history of America; they are the continuation 
of the "royal colonial charters" under which they established their different local 
governments, subject to the authority of the British Crown and ultimately of the 
English Parliament. 

In reality there exists no guaranties for the people, or true limitations to power 
unless said people enacts its own constitution. 

"The Constitution is an agreement of the people in their individual capacity reduced 
to writing, whereby they establish and fix certain principles for their own govern- 
ment." (State V. Parkhurst, 9 N. J., 422.) 

"The theory of our political system is that sovereignty ultimately rests in the people, 
from whom all authority emanates." (Cooley.) 

Constitution is "the fundamental law or basis of government." (Story.) 

"The supreme, original and written will of the people acting in their highest 
capacity, creating and organizing the form of government, designating the different 
departments and assigning to these their respective powers and duties and obliging 
them to act within their respective spheres, this is the Constitution." (State v. Cox, 
8 Ark., 436.) 

Under the Constitution we want to put into effect, among others, the following 
purposes, which we set forth under separate headings, inasmuch as each one of them 
constitutes a matter so important and coiiiplete that we invite the attention of the 
Secretary of War to each and every one thereof. 

82 



SPECIAL EEPORT OF THE SECEETAEY OF WAE. 83 

A COMPLETE DECLARATION OF RIGHTS MADE BY THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES. 

All the people of all countries have always been compelled to seek safeguards for 
then: rights and guaranties for their liberties. Therefore, the declaration of rights 
constitutes the principal part of a constitution. 

"The petition of English rights in the year 1688 was historic and retrospective; the 
declaration of Virginia comes directly from the heart of nature and proclaims the 
principles of government for all future time." (Cooley.) 

"The American Bills of Rights desire not only to formulate certain principles of 
political organization, but above all, they define the lines of separation between the 
state and the individual. The individual does not, according to them, owe to the 
state, but to his own nature, as a subject of law, the inalienable and inviolable rights 
he has." (Jellinek.) 

EXTENSION OF LEGISLATIVE POWERS. 

The reservation by Congress of many legislative powers that up to the present time 
have not been granted to the Philippine Legislature is a serious disadvantage to our 
interests. To cite no other cases we will invite attention to the lack of a naturaliza- 
tion law. This law is most important and its approval should not be delayed a single 
instant. 

SEPARATION OF POWERS AND INDEPENDENCE OP THE JUDICIARY. 

The extraordinary situation that naturally followed the war having ceased, we do 
not see how the present system can continue longer, one that puts in the hands of one 
or a few men all the powers of the State. Several centuries have already passed 
since the constitutional charters were inaugurated by the division of powers. "If 
the individual himself," says Montesquieu, " can make the laws as delegate of the 
nation, to apply them as a judge and execute them as a sovereign, this man has des- 
potism in his hand . ' ' 

"The consolidation of all the legislative, executive, and judicial powers in the same 
hands, whether of one, several, or many, and either by hereditary right, usurpation, 
or election, may with justice be called the best definition of tyranny." (Madison.) 

That the judiciary should be independent is something that can not be questioned. 

"There is no liberty if the judiciary is not separated from the legislative and exec- 
utive power." (Montesquieu.) 

AN ELECTIVE SENATE. 

From the experience that has been gained with the establishment of the Philippine 
Assembly, there is now no reason why the powers of the people may not be extended 
to a complete legislative control through the creation of an elective senate . 

Only thus, acknowledging in the people the right of representation, in the house 
(cdmara popular) and in the senate, can the interests of the said people be adequately 
maintained . 

Moreover, there is need for reorganizing the public services, simplifying them, and 
at the same time making them more efficient, seeking more economy; and this task is 
little less than impossible to accomplish unless there is a senate elected by the people. 

There are, on the other hand, certain powers that pertain to the smallest subdivi- 
sions of the government which are now attributed, with no advantage to anyone, but 
with injury to all, to the central government. We want more autonomy and less cen- 
tralization in the local life, in order to develop and not restrain the initiative ability 
of the people, and this purpose can with difficulty be carried into effect if the powers 
of the two chambers are not derived from the people. 

EXTENSION OF THE POPULAR LEGISLATIVE POWER THROUGHOUT THE ARCHIPELAGO. 

The sentiment is unanimous among the Philippine people that the recognition of 
our national independence does not come burdened with the disastrous mutilation 
of our Philippine territory. 

While it is not reasonable to deprive the Assembly of the exercise of legislative pow- 
ers over those portions of the Philippine territory, whether or not occupied by Chris- 
tians, but inhabited all about by people related to our race, and whose needs and feel- 
ings we must necessarily be acquainted with better than outsiders, the anomalous case 



84 SPECIAL EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY OP WAR. 

is presented of Filipinos in considerable numbers living in these portions of the terri- 
tory who do not enjoy the civil and political rights accorded to other Filipinos living 
in other portions of the same territory. The Supreme Court of the United States, rul- 
ing upon the nullity of certain laws of the Commission depriving the non-Christian 
tribes of the benefits of the law of registration of property and of the law of public 
lands, takes as a basis that the principal object "in the internal administration of the 
Philippine Islands is to do justice to the natives and not to exploit their country for 
private gain," and that the guaranties and protection prescribed in the organic law 
of the 1st of July, 1902, are made extensive to all, for it is hard to believe that the Gov- 
ernment of the United States would be in a condition to declare th.at the phrase "any 
person" (in article 12 of the organic law cited) does not include the inhabitants of the 
province of Benguet — that is, inhabitants belonging to non-Christian tribes. 

We judge this restriction of the Assembly in its legislative tasks over Mindanao and 
the non-Christian tribes is the effect solely of a sad prejudice. The fact is that in those 
regions no Christians have settled save 60,000 Filipinos, and granting this is true 
the aspiration to participate in the government of those portions of our national terri- 
tory is only sensible and just. We mean by this that there is no question of absorp- 
tion of that government on the part of the popular element, but a simple participation 
that can not be denied without trampling upon and ignoring the incontrovertible 
principles of equity and justice. 

In conclusion, this intervention in the management of the affairs of Mindanao and 
the non-Christian tribes is sought because nearly a million dollars in the Philippine 
treasury coming from general taxation of the people is invested, without consent or 
intervention of said people, in and by the government of the Moro Province and non- 
Christian tribes. 

"That maxim that has been familiar to every intelligent person and for many gener- 
ations that the taxpayers are the ones to enact the law of taxes that must be paid ' ' 
(Cooley)- 

implies that the revenues collected by virtue of said laws and imposts must be expended 
by and for the benefit of those who paid them. 

Moreover, there has been talk, in order to sustain the present anomalous adminis- 
tration of the Moro Province and the non-Christian tribes, of a supposed antagonism 
between the Philippine Christians and these non-Christian tribes. If given oppor- 
tunity, we might demonstrate with satisfaction that this antagonism does not exist. 
But without being prophets we may say that unfortunately such antagonism will 
arise if we continue an administration that results in making men who live upon the 
same soil become not only not brethren, but probably enemies. By not favoring our con- 
tact with the non-Christian tribes or Moros, but completely isolating us from them, it 
is not difficult to sow among them those ideas that sooner or later will create distrust, 
hostility, and enmity toward the Christians. 

IMPEACHMENT. 

It is important to institute some procediu-e whereby high officials of the government 
may be held answerable, and the separation of powers and the independence of the 
judiciary present a corallary that in certain grave cases said officials may and must 
answer for their conduct before bodies designated by law. 

There are several other matters that we wish to include in this memorandum. 
These are: 

CHINESE IMMIGRATION. 

Even though we are assured that Congress in its wise enactments will not alter 
the prudent policy established relative to Chinese exclusion, we believe, nevertheless, 
that we should enter here the unanimous feeling of the country in favor of this policy. 

salb][op public lands and the friar estates. 

Being desirous of implanting among ourselves the idea of a true democracy and 
providing against difficulties that, having occurred elsewhere, may occur among us 
in time to come, we resolutely set ourselves against a wider extension of the lands of 
public domain that may be sold to private parties or corporations. We also wish that 
such opinion prevail in connection with the sale of the friar estates. The intervention 
of the government in these estates never was understood to be the business, more or 
less lucrative, of said government, but to be a sacred duty, to relie^^e the Philippine 
land tenants of the difficult position they occupied in the past. 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 85 

FILIPINIZATION OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES. 

While many of the questions we submit in this memorandum are, in the last analysis, 
within the province of Congress, the point enunciated in this paragraph is completely 
in your hands, and with all respect and most earnestly we beg that it be justly and 
promptly decided. 

We might enter upon a lengthy dissertation, which, without lack of data or facts, 
might be sufficiently strong to support our claim; but we believe it unnecessary to 
insist upon it if we keep in mind the obligations themselves that, by virtue of 
definite statements, the government of the United States has assumed. If President 
Roosevelt said that his idea was to erect a Philippine government of Filipinos, assisted 
by Americans, and President Taft declared that the Philippines must be for the 
Filipinos, from President McKinley come the following emphatic words, that are 
now fundamental precepts in Adrtue of their incorporation »in to the act of Congress of 
July 1, 1902. 

McKinley said 

" * * * that wherever officer^ of more extended jurisdiction are to be selected 
in any way, natives of the islands are to be preferred, and if they can be found com- 
petent and willing to perform the duties, they are to receive the offices in preference 
to any others." 

It is not our purpose to recommend in the proposition that those efficient Americans 
should immediately be deprived of the positions they are now filling, but at the same 
time we do not see why, as the Filipino becomes competent to fill posts of greater 
responsibility, vacancies that occur are not filled by Filipinos. 

Lajos, 

President of the Nacionalista Party, 
V. SiNGSON Encaenacion, 

President of the Progresista Party. 



Appendix E. 

[Translation.] 

Message of the Popular Nacionalista League of the 

Philippines. 

Manila, P. I., August 29, 1910. 
Hon. Jacob M. Dickinson, 

Secretary of War of the United States of North America, Manila, P. I. 

Honorable Sir: The undersigned, Filipino citizens, who compose the board of 
directors of the Popular Nacionalista League, a political party which is working by 
legitimate means to obtain the immediate independence of the Philippines, pray of 
the Secretary of War of the United States, Hon. Jacob M. Dickinson, that he recom- 
mend to the President and the Congress of the United States of North America that 
these two high powers of the great American Republic concede to us immediate 
independence, as the only means of making happy the people of the islands, accord- 
ing to the petition made by our Resident Commissioner in the United States, Hon. 
Manuel Quezon, to the American Congress. 

This petition is based on the following reasons: 

I. 

Historical Antecedents. 

The United States granted immediate independence to the little island of Cuba 
without any reason or cause other than the historical veneration of the American 
people for the inalienable rights of any people to obtain for itself its own happiness, 
and to establish a government derived from the consent of the inhabitants; and, 
moreover, because the United States has seen the Cuban people struggle resolutely 
against Spain, sacrificing life and fortune to obtain their independence. Therefore, 
the Filipino people, who are ten times greater than Cuba in population, territory, and 
resources, supporting themselves upon the rigorous logic of this altruistic action of 
America with respect to Cuba, consider themselves entitled to receive from the 
United States the same generous concession of independence, because the Filipino 
people, as such people, have the same inalienable rights to obtain for themselves 
their own happiness, establishing a government derived from the consent of the 
Filipinos; and, moreover, because the Filipino people also struggled against the 
same Spain to obtain their independence, with more boldness, perhaps, than Cuba,, 
in view of the fact that they began their struggle for independence without arms 
other than their bare hands, their bolos, and their faith in the ideal, succeeding, 
nevertheless, in 1898, in vanquishing the Spaniards in noble conflict, to the point 
of being able to establish in the capital at Malolos their own independent national 
government, in the face of all of the squadrons and all of the consuls of the greatest 
nations of the world, including America, represented by Admiral Dewey, although 
at a cost, doubtless, of thousands of lives and the blood and fortunes of her most 
noble sons, as is well known. 

II. 

Economic Resources. 

According to the census of 1903 of the Philippines (Vol. IV, p. 429), the total value 
of the property, real and other, of the Filipinos amounted to F622,245,719, Philippine 
currency, which, in imports and exports alone, produced the amount of ^"57, 343, 808, 
Philippine currency (Philippine census, p. 16, Vol. IV). The value of exports and 
imports having increased to, in the fiscal year 1908-9, the enormous sum of P70,000,000, 
according to recent statistics of the Philippine customs administration, it follows, 
logically, that the property of the Filipinos has increased to double that of their 
first value of ^622, 245,719, and, therefore, it is hoped, with all assurance, the increase 
in the economic resources of the Filipino people will each time be greater, thus 
assuring an increase of the public taxes such as to satisfy the greatest needs of an 
independent government. 

86 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 87 

III. 

Moral and Social Condition. 

The Filipino 'people loves God above all things, without fanaticism or intolerance, 
as illustrated by its different religious cults, as carried forward by each church, sect, or 
confession, amidst the most perfect order. And it also loves its neighbor as itself, as 
evidenced by the small number of Filipino criminals, which is less than 8 for each 
10,000 inhabitants, while in the United States of America the proportion is 13 for each 
10,000 inhabitants, according to the census of 1903 (p. 445, Vol. IV). 

In this connection we transcribe here below a paragraph from the page and volume 
of the Philippine census above cited: 

"Considering the unstable state of the affairs of the country during the six years 
preceding the taking of the census, the result is not only favorable, but is extraordinary, 
and indicates that the Filipinos, as a race, are not particularly inclined to crime." 

The diminution of crimes and of criminals in the Philippines is explained by the 
better pacification of the country, resulting in attracting the people to their habitual 
love of agricultural, industrial, and commercial labor. This is so certain that in some 
crimes, banditry, for instance, the criminals are conspicuous by their absence, accord- 
ing to the last criminal statistics published by the worthy attorney-general of the 
islands, Hon. Ignacio Villamor. 

The Filipinos are given to labor, and, consequently, as lovers of peace and order, 
they cultivate their rich agricultural lands and promote industry and commerce, in 
proof of which the increased value of imports and exports is cited. When it is 
taken into account that, according to the Philippine census (p. 322, Vol. II), the active 
laborers of a country of 8,000,000 inhabitants count only 1,000,525, and a like number, 
more or less, of women, it is wonderful that such a small active force should produce 
annually the fabulous sums above mentioned. 

The people of the islands are devoted to the family and the home, than which there 
are no better pledges for the stability and efficiency of any government where there is 
also an anxiety for education. They cultivate the sciences and arts devotedly, as 
evidenced by the 500,000 Filipino youths annually attending the public schools and 
private institutions here and abroad. They receive with affection all of the material 
improvements, such as the telegraph, the telephone, the railroads, the electric cars, 
automobiles, the press, and all classes of useful machinery. 

And, lastly, the Filipinos are hospitable \nd pacific toward the stranger, as you 
have had occasion to observe during your stay in the Archipelago. 

IV. 
Political Capacity. 

During the ten years of American occupancy of the islands there have been held 
five general elections for provincial and municipal offices, and there have been two 
more for delegates to the Philippine Assembly. During these ten years there have 
been some 90,000 Filipinos who have successively filled the various offices in the 
municipal councils, in the provincial governments, and in the Philippine Assembly 
in a manner that is certainly very satisfactory, with rare exceptions, because they have 
maintained public order, avoided insurrection, collected nearly P400,000,000 of public 
taxes, and have cooperated with the judicial, health, public works, and police officials 
for the best success of the entire civil service of the Philippine government. 

If this is not sufficient to demonstrate the full capacity of the Filipino people, then 
show us the book, the history, or the text in which we can learn the art of politics, 
because the history, universal and individual, ancient as well as modern, of all the 
civilized nations, can teach us nothing new or better with respect to the government 
of the respective peoples than has been put in practice by the Filipino people, as has 
been shown. 

V. 

Administbative Capacity. 

During the ten years of American occupation in these islands 7,056 Filipinos, except- 
ing the constabulary and scouts, have held public offices in the judicial, fiscal, and 
all the different administrative biireaus of these islands, to the entire satisfaction of 
the American chiefs, as proved by the annual reports of the latter. 



88 SPECIAL KEPOET OF THE SECRETAEY OF WAR. 

But where the administrative capacity of the Filipino shows brightest is in the 
armed corps of the scouts and the constabulary, in which it is not known whether to 
admire most their fidelity or their patience, their valor or their discipline, or their 
activity or their intelligence in the performance of their laborious and difficult duties. 

VI. 

Inherent Incompatibilities. 

The illustrious American and statesman, Mr. Webster, said : 

"Gently as the yoke of a foreign government may rest, the happiness of a subject 
people is impossible." 

And so it is, honorable Secretary of War of the United States, for gently, and very 
gently, as rests the yoke of American Government in these islands, in comparison 
with that of the past, nevertheless the Filipino people are daily more unhappy, because 
of the incompatibility of any colonial government to make and give happiness to a 
subject people. 

We offer for your consideration some sad examples which demonstrate our thesis 
and that of the illustrious American statesman, Mr. Webster, which occurred here in 
the Philippines during the ten years of American occupation. But before presenting 
them, we desire to make it understood that we give them without intent to complain 
of anyone or to accuse anyone, because our proposition is solely to demonstrate the 
impossibility of our being happy under the present government of the islands. 

FIRST CASE OF INCOMPATIBILITY. 

It is well known that when we made peace with the army of the United States, 
through the friendly mediation of Hon. William H. Taft, now "President of the United 
States, the Filipinos, notwithstanding having recognized American sovereignty, were 
yet permitted to use our Filipino flag, not as a symbol of sovereignty and national 
authority, but as a glorious remembrance of the past and as a symbol of our faith 
in the ideal and of our hopes in the glorious American flag to obtain our independ- 
ence. And so we made use of the Filipino flag in our native holidays until August 
23, 1907. 

But ori this date the Philippine government, on the petition of all of the Americans 
in these islands, enacted the act. No. 1696, prohibiting the use of our beloved Filipino 
flag and penalizing infringement of the law with fine and imprisonment. 

Imagine for one moment, Mr. Secretary, that you had been in the Philippines, as 
was Admiral Dewey, and authorized by your presence the inauguration and use of 
the Filipino flag, from June 12, 1898, in the face of the Spaniards and of all of the 
squadrons of the greatest nations of the world, suppressing it only on the day of the 
breaking out of hostilities between the Americans and Filipinos. 

Imagine for a moment that under the folds of the Filipino flag we fought the Span- 
iards in 1898, vanquishing them in noble conflict and capturing 9,000 Spanish pris- 
oners, though at the cost of many lives, and the blood and fortunes of many heroic 
sons of the Philippines. 

And imagine, at last, that this Filipino flag, moist with the blood of these heroic 
martyrs of the country, was the symbol of our dearest ideal, Philippine independence, 
and then you can understand, with a little impartiality, the great injustice to the 
Filipino people in prohibiting them from using their beloved symbol. 

How is it possible to be happy when the heart is wounded in the most holy and 
most sacred of its sentiments? 

SECOND CASE OP INCOMPATIBILITY. 

When our municipal authorities are to receive the Governor-General, they have the 
good taste to do it with bands or orchestras, though not required by law to do so, in 
order to show their sincere respect, sympathy and courtesy to the first authority of 
the islands. And, as is customary, the first notes of salute are those of the American 
national march and of the Filipino national march, the American march sometimes 
being played first, and at other times the Filipino. The ceremonial of reception was 
thus celebrated pacifically during the administrations of Messrs. Taft, Wright, Ide, 
and Smith. 

But the present Governor-General, Hon. W. Cameron Forbes, has given verbal 
orders to the governor of Rizal and to the governor of Batangas, that m future the 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 89 

American march shall always precede the- Filipino and, naturally, this order is another 
wound inflicted on the heart of the Filipino people, who render homage to their 
national air with a fervor equal to that which they render to their beloved flag. 

THIRD CASE OF INCOMPATIBILITY. 

Through the civil-service laws there exists a great difference between the salaries 
of American and Filipino employees, a difference which may be seen in the following 
proportion from the report of the Governor-General for 1909 in reference to the bureau 
■of civil service : 

Officials and employees: 

Americans 4, 397 

Filipinos 7, 056 

Salaries : 

Of 4,397 Americans T8, 696, 962 

Of 7,056 Filipifi.os T4, 018, 988 

Average salary: 

For each American F3, 225. 63 

For each Filipino T914. 03 

This difference in pay has been interpreted, and is still mterpicucu oy tbe entire 
country as an unjust lack of consideration for the intelligence and efficiency of the 
Filipino official or employee. This lack of consideration has continued through the ten 
years of American occui^ation, filling with bitterness and unjustly humiliating the 
Filipino people. 

FOURTH CASE OP INCOMPATIBILITY. 

Americanista and anti-Americanista seem to be, for the present government, a sort 
of joker, to be played at any place and time, as was the case with Espafiol and anti- 
Espaiiol in the time of the Spanish Government. 

This thing of Espanol and anti-Espaiiol was the cause of a great deal of ill feeling 
and discord between the Spaniards and Filipinos, resulting in grave and dangerous 
consequences for the Filipino people. This history is now being repeated, and there 
are daily occurrences due to its prejudicial influence, in the street cars, in the public 
streets and places, and in all private and official transactions, so that it now consti- 
tutes an injury to both people. Thus, a Filipino Nationalist is an anti-American, 
and should therefore be treated with contumely and repugnance. 

When it is remembered that the Nationalists constitute the majority of the people, 
then the suffering and pain caused the ear of the Filipino people by this fourth case of 
incompatibility Avill be understood. 

FIFTH CASE OFINCOMIATIBILITY. 

To the lack of equilibrium which exists, and which has existed always since American 
occupation between the total public taxation, F42,000,000, and the legal circulation, 
?40, 337, 982.04 (fiscal year 1908-9), is due the fact that usury reigns in the economic 
life of the country, and this never happened during the time of Spanish Government. 
Then the taxes amounted to ^13,000,000' though in the last years of the war of insurrec- 
tion they increased to ^"17, 000, 000, while the legal money, Mexican, circulated without 
limit, due to contraband, resulting in low rates of interest to the benefit of all. 

This usury now reaches to from 60 to 100 per cent per annum, and there is no remedy 
for it but to succumb, because the payments for taxes and economic necessities are 
peremptory. 

We understand that as it was inherent under the Spanish Government to levy small 
taxes and to take small interest in public improvements, so it is inherent in the Amer- 
ican Government to appropriate large amounts, regardless of our strength, through 
its vehement desire to give us quickly all of the public improvements. 

But we see clearly that both governments act without consideration of the just 
interests of the Filipino people. From this we deduce that no foreign government is 
japable of conducting the Filipino people to peace and prosperity. 

All of the rules of political economy are subordinated to the resources, customs, and 
habits of a people. If, for example, the production of beer, whisky, tobacco, and 
sugar were not favored in the United States, and as result thereof the American people 
had to import these articles from abroad, it is clear that the American people would 
be rendered economically unfortunate. 



90 SPECIAL KEPOET OF THE SECRETAKY OF WAR. 

And so it is in the Philippines. Spanish genius left us in abandon, and we were 
poor. American genius puts us in constant action, but to an extent much greater 
than our resources, strength, and energy will permit, and as a result we lack little, 
economically speaking, of being isolated. 

A proof of this statement is the great increase in the number of usurers established 
on each street of this city, while in the times of the Spanish Government there were 
scarcely a half dozen. 

There is another example we could cite here, but with a regard for brevity, and in 
order not to further take your time we omit other citations, and close this message, 
repeating the prayer that for all of the reasons related you deign to recommend to the 
President of the great American Republic, that he may in turn transmit the recom- 
mendation to Congress and to the Senate of the United States, that immediate inde- 
pendence be conceded to us, as the only right and natural means of bringing about 
our happiness, as was requested of the American Congress by our Resident Commis- 
sioner in the United States, Hon. Manuel L. Quezon. 
Very respectfully, 

B. Bustamente, President; Luciano de la Rosa, First Vice-President; 
A . L. Escamilla, Secretary; Hermenegildo Cruz, Subsecretary; Leandro 
Claro, Treasurer; Timoteo Paez, G. Marankay, Cayto. Arguelles, 
H. Reyes, Members. 



Appendix F. 
Letter of Hon. Manuel Quezon. 

Manila, September 1, 1910. 

Mr. Secretary: In compliance with your request made in a personal conversation 
with the undersigned, I have the honor hereby to express to you the opinion of the 
Filipinos on the friar lands question. 

Of these, there are lands that are occupied by tenants and others that are not. It 
is the opinion of my people that those occupied by tenants should be, as soon as pos- 
sible, sold to the tenants — irrespective of the size of the lands or parcels thereof so 
occupied — even though the government should incur some losses by the speedy dis- 
posal of such lands. The reason for this is that the purpose of the government in buy- 
ing these lands from the friars was precisely to settle the serious problem arisen in 
these islands by the tenants of those lands through sale of said lands to their tenants. 

With regard to the unoccupied lands, it is the opinion of the Filipinos that they 
should be disposed of subject to the same limitations imposed by law on public lands. 
The reason for this is the same that the Filipinos have in objecting to the sale of public 
lands in large areas. It is evident that the Filipinos, in so far as the friar-lands ques- 
tion is concerned, do not give any consideration to the business point of view of the 
matter, but only to the social and political ones. There are at present no people in 
this country that are either very wealthy or beggar; the wealth of the country is divided 
among the people, and this is considered by the Filipinos as the guaranty for the con- 
servatism of this community. 

Politically, it is the firm belief of the Filipinos that the ownership of large tracts 
of lands by foreigners constitutes a menace to the independence, both political and 
economical, of the archipelago. 

The foregoing opinion has been expressed and entertained by all Filipino papers, 
irrespective of their party affiliation, all of which unanimously declared themselves 
against the government's policy in the sale of the Mindoro estate, and I know, from 
what I have heard from other sources, that the opinion so expressed by the papers is 
entirely in accord with the opinion of the people in general. 
Most respectfully, 

Manuel Quezon, 
Resident Commissioner to the United States for the Philippines. 

The Secretary of War op the United States, 

Manila, P. I. 

91 



Appendix G. 

Statement of American and Filipino Employees. 

under the governor-general. 















Percentage of 


— 




Year. 


Amer- 
ican. 


Filipino. 


Oth- 
ers. 


Total. 








Bureau or service. 


Amer- 


Fili- 


Oth- 














ican. 


pino. 


ers. 


Executive bureau 


1903 


50 


53 


2 


105 


48.0 


50.0 


2.0 




1904 


51 


76 


1 


128 


40.0 


59.0 


LO 




1905 


46 


84 


1 


131 


35.0 


64.0 


LO 




1906 


49 


106 


1 


156 


31.0 


68.0 


LO 




1907 


43 


116 


2 


161 


27.0 


72.0 


LO 




1908 


37 


100 


3 


140 


26.0 


72.0 


2.0 




1909 


35 


115 


2 


152 


23.0 


76.0 


LO 




1910 


32 


110 


2 


144 


22.0 


77.0 


LO 


I'rovincial service 


1903 


86 


238 




324 


27.0 


73.0 






1904 


87 


143 




230 


38.0 


62.0 






1905 


80 


246 




326 


25.0 


75.0 






1906 


60 


183 




243 


25.0 


75.0 






1907 


50 


96 




146 


34.0 


66.0 






1908 


49 


101 




150 


33.0 


67.0 






1909 


47 


102 




149 


32.0 


68.0 






1910 


39 


101 




140 


28.0 


72.0 




Municipal service 


1903 


24 


14, 098 




14, 122 


.2 


99.8 






1904 


44 


11, 289 




11, 333 


.4 


99.6 






1905 


58 


10, 725 




10, 783 


.5 


99.5 






1906 


68 


10, 774 




10, 842 


.6 


99.4 






1907 


88 


11, 350 




11, 438 


.8 


99.2 






1908 


82 


11, 760 




11, 842 


.7 


99.3 






1909 


81 


12, 275 




12, 356 


.7 


99.3 






1910 


102 


12, 417 




12, 519 


.8 


99.2 




Biu-eau of audits 


1904 


61 


27 




88 


69.0 


3L0 






1905 


56 


41 




97 


58.0 


42.0 






1906 


68 


54 




122 


56.0 


44.0 






1907 


69 


61 




130 


53.0 


47.0 






1908 


66 


78 




144 


45.0 


55.0. 






1909 


64 


103 


i 


168 


38.0 


61.3 


.7 




1910 


60 


135 


1 


196 


30.5 


69.0 


.5 


Bureau of civil service . 


1903 


11 


8 




19 


58.0 


42.0 






1904 


20 


14 




34 


59.0 


41.0 






1905 


16 


19 




35 


46.0 


54.0 






1906 


11 


18 




29 


38.0 


62.0 






1907 


11 


19 




30 


37.0 


63.0 






1908 


10 


17 




27 


37.0 


63.0 






1909 


11 


23 




34 


32.0 


68.0 






1910 


10 


25 




35 


29.0 


7L0 




City of Manila 


1903 


739 


3,439 




4,178 


18.0 


82.0 






1904 


843 


4,013 




4,856 


17.0 


83.0 






1905 


826 


3,675 




4,501 


18.0 


82.0 






1906 


720 


5,245 




5,965 


12.0 


88.0 






1907 


505 


5,166 




5,671 


9.0 


91.0 






1908 


463 


3,521 




3,984 


12.0 


88.0 






1909 


522 


4,993 




5,515 


10.0 


90.0 






1910 


468 


3,908 




4,376 


11.0 


89.0 





92 



SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 



93 



Statement of American and Filipino employees — Continued. 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND POLICE. 











Oth- 




Percentage of- 


- 


Bureau of service. 


Year. 




Filipino. 


Total. 




















Amer- 
ican. 


Fili- 
pino. 


Oth- 
ers. 


Bureau of constabu- 


















lary: 

Officers 


1903 
1904 


205 
261 


66 
73 




271 
334 


76.0 
78.0 


24.0 
22.0 










1905 


269 


71 




340 


79.0 


21.0 






1906 


247 


66 




313 


79.0 


21.0 






1907 


253 


68 




321 


79.0 


21.0 






1908 


248 


74 




322 


77.0 


23.0 






1909 


246 


67 




• 313 


78.0 


22.0 






1910 


254 


64 




318 


80.0 


20.0 




Employees 


1903 


23 


70 




93 


26.0 


74.0 






1904 


48 


60 




108 


45.0 


55.0 






1905 


56 


165 




221 


25.0 


75.0 






1906 


68 


88 




156 


44.0 


56.0 






1907 


23 


61 




84 


27.0 


73.0 






1908 


22 


59 




81 


27.0 


73.0 






1909 


24 


60 




84 


29.0 


' 71.0 






1910 


21 


61 




82 


26.0 


74.0 




Enlisted men .... 


1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 




6,264 
6,683 
6,799 
4,800 
4,788 
4,622 
4,624 
4,256 








100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 
100.0 










































































Bureau of public 










works 


1903 
1904 


3 

54 






3 
69 


"78."6" 


100.0 
22.0 






15 








1905 


49 


26 




75 


65.0 


35.0 






1906 


83 


60 




143 


42.0 


58.0 






1907 


100 


84 




184 


54.0 


46.0 






1908 


155 


117 




272 


57.0 


43.0 






1909 


381 


479 




860 


44.0 


56.0 






1910 


456 


715 




1,171 


39.0 


61.0 




Bureau of navigation.. 


1903 


120 


1,152 


93 


1,365 


8.7 


84.3 


7.0 




1904 


178 


1,534 


166 


1,878 


9.4 


81.7 


8.8 




1905 


159 


1,518 


136 


1,813 


8.7 


83.7 


7.6 


' 


1906 


137 


1,461 


202 


1,800 


7.6 


81.1 


11.3 




1907 


150 


1,569 


140 


1,859 


8.0 


84.4 


7.6 




1908 


141 


1,467 


158 


1,766 


8.0 


83.0 


9.0 




1909 


151 


1,594 


237 


1,982 


7.8 


80.4 


11.8 




1910 


182 


2,141 


296 


2,619 


6.9 


82.5 


11.6 


Bureau of posts 


1903 


234 


137 


1 


372 


62.9 


36.8 


.3 




1904 


197 


379 


1 


577 


34.1 


65.7 


.2 




1905 


156 


453 


3 


612 


25.5 


74.1 


.4 




1906 


223 


777 


3 


1,003 


22.2 


77.5 


.3 




1907 


210 


878 


3 


1,091 


19.2 


80.5 


.3 




1908 


237 


1,125 


3 


1,365 


17.4 


82.4 


.2 




1909 


201 


1,164 


2 


1,367 


14.7 


85.1 


.2 




1910 


191 


1,377 


1 


1,569 


12.2 


87.79 


.01 


Bureau of coast siu:- 


















veys 


1903 


19 


208 




227 


8.0 


92.0 






1904 


19 


215 




234 


8.0 


92.0 






1905 


25 


266 




291 


9.0 


91.0 






1906 


35 


265 




300 


12.0 


88.0 






1907 


44 


274 




318 


14.0 


86.0 






1908 


49 


275 




324 


15.0 


85.0 





94 



SPECIAL EEPORT OF THE SEOBBTARY 0¥ WAR. 



Statement of American and Filipino employees — Continued. 
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND POLICE— Continued. 





Year. 


Amer- 
ican. 


Filipino. 


Oth- 
ers. 


Total. 


Percentage of— 


Bureau of service. 


Amer- 
ican. 


FiU- 
pino. 


Oth- 
ers. 


Bureau of coast sur- 
veys (continued) . . . 

Bureau of labor 

Consulting architect . . 

Supervising railway 
expert 


1909 
1910 
1910 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
19l0 

1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 


49 

47 

2 

5 

8 

8 

14 

6 
5 
3 
3 


278 
255 
17 
5 
14 
12 
13 
15 

4 
1 
1 
1 




327 
302 
17 
7 
19 
20 
21 
29 

10 
6 
4 
4 


15.0 
16.0 

"28."6' 
26.3 
40.0 
38.0 
48.3 

60.0 
83.3 
75.0 
75.0 


85.0 
84.0 
100.0 
71.4 
73.7 
60.0 
62.0 
51.7 

40.0 
16.7 
25.0 
25.0 









DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND JUSTICE. 



Bureau of the treasury. 



Bureau of internal 
revenue 



Bureau of customs 



Court of land registra- 
tion 



Supreme court 



1903 


27 


9 




36 


75.0 


25.0 


1904 


44 


11 




55 


80.0 


20.0 


1905 


42 


16 




58 


72.0 


28.0 


1906 


23 


22 




45 


51.0 


49.0 


1907 


24 


24 




48 


50.0 


50.0 


1908 


21 


19 




40 


53.0 


47.0 


1909 


19 


21 




40 


47.0 


53.0 


1910 


19 


21 




40 


47.0 


53.0 


1903 


26 


122 


• 


148 


18.0 


82.0 


1904 


36 


133 




169 


21.0 


79.0 


1905 


72 


176 




248 


29.0 


71.0 


1906 


72 


241 




313 


23.0 


77.0 


1907 


89 


308 




397 


22.0 


78.0 


1908 


89 


336 




425 


21.0 


79.0 


1909 


83 


343 




426 


19.0 


81.0 


1910 


84 


331 




415 


20.0 


80.0 


1904 


278 


733 


13 


1,024 


27.0 


72.0 


1905 


241 


716 


12 


969 


25.0 


74.0 


1906 


221 


553 


13 


787 


28.0 


70.0 


1907 


173 


537 


13 


723 


24.0 


74.0 


1908 


150 


533 


12 


695 


21.0 


77.0 


1909 


146 


522 


11 


679 


^■0 


77.0 


1910 


136 


532 


11 


679 


20.0 


78.0 


1904 


3 


10 




13 


24.0 


76.0 


1905 


7 


35 




42 


17.0 


83.0 


1906 


7 


38 




45 


16.0 


84.0 


1907 


9 


47 





56 


16.0 


84.0 


1908 


7 


52 




59 


12.0 


88.0 


1909 


6 


65 




71 


8.5 


91.5 


1910 


6 


81 




87 


7.0 


93.0 


1903 


4 


16 


1 


21 


19.0 


76.0 


1904 


4 


16 


1 


21 


19.0 


76.0 


1905 


2 


16 


1 


19 


10.0 


85.0 


1906 


4 


17 


1 


22 


18.0 


77.0 


1907 


3 


21 


2 


26 


11.0 


81.0 


1908 


3 


23 


2 


28 


10.0 


83.0 


1909 


4 


23 


2 


29 


14.0 


79.0 


1910 


3 


25 


2 


30 


10.0 


83.0 



SPECIAL EEPORT OF THE SECEETARY OF WAR, 



95 



Statement of American and Filipino employees — Continued. 
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND JUSTICE— Continued. 





Year. 


Amer- 
ican. 


Filipino. 


Oth- 
ers. 


Total. 


Percentage of— 


Bureau or service. 


Amer- 
ican. 


Fili- 
pino. 


Oth- 
ers. 


Bureau of justice 


1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 


21 
23 
21 
20 
16 
13 
15 
12 


13 
13 
15 
17 
23 
25 
28 
30 




34 
36 
36 
37 
39 
38 
43 
42 


62.0 
64.0 
58.0 
54.0 
42.0 
34.0 
35.0 
29.0 


38.0 
36.0 
42.0 
46.0 
58.0 
66.0 
65.0 
71.0 





DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 



Bureau of agriculture . . 


1903 


24 


181 




205 


12.0 


88.0 






1904 


22 


274 




296 


7.0 


93.0 






1905 


20 


359 




379 


5.0 


95.0 






1906 


33 


231 




264 


13.0 


87.0 






1907 


38 


289 




327 


12.0 


88.0 






1908 


50 


335 


2 


387 


13.0 


87.0 






1909 


66 


322 


5 


393 


17.0 


82.0 


i. 6 




1910 


96 


670 


5 


771 


12.0 


87.0 


1.0 


Bureau of education .. 


1904 


761 


3,658 




4,419 


17.22 


82.78 






1905 


893 


4,587 




5,480 


16.30 


83.70 






1906 


801 


4,849 




5,650 


14.18 


85.82 






1907 


784 


6,271 




7,055 


11.11 


88.89 






1908 


760 


6,962 




7,722 


9.84 


90.16 






1909 


863 


7,698 




8,561 


10.08 


89.92 






1910 


770 


8,620 




9,030 


8.52 


91. 48 




Bureau of printing 


1904 


58 


218 


5 


281 


20.64 


77.58 


1.78 




1905 


47 


241 


6 


294 


15.98 


81.97 


2.05 




1906 


40 


253 


3 


296 


13.51 


85.47 


1.02 




1907 


33 


257 


3 


293 


11.26 


87.71 


1.03 




1908 


30 


318 


3 


351 


8.54 


90.59 


.87 




1909 


27 


285 


3 


315 


8.57 


90.50 


.93 




1910 


27 


318 


3 


348 


7.76 


91.38 


.86 


Bureau of prisons 


1903 


33 


59 




92 


35.87 


54.13 






1904 


50 


63 




113 


44.25 


55.75 






1905 


63 


84 




147 


42.86 


57.14 






1906 


62 


104 




166 


37.35 


62.65 






1907 


67 


109 




176 


38.07 


61.93 






1908 


68 


117 


2 


187 


36.36 


62.56 


1.08 




1909 


64 


117 


2 


183 


34.97 


63.93 


1.10 




1910 


70 


124 


2 


196 


35.71 


63.26 


1.03 


Bureau of supply 


1903 


183 


960 


4 


1,147 


16.0 


83.7 


.3 




1904 


174 


804 


2 


980 


17.7 


82.0 


.3 




1905 


131 


378 


2 


511 


25.6 


74.0 


.4 




1906 


92 


359 


3 


454 


20.3 


79.0 


.7 




1907 


98 


370 


3 


471 


20.8 


78.5 


.7 




1908 


85 


419 


2 


506 


16.8 


82.8 


.4 




1909 


81 


390 


2 


473 


17.3 


82.4 


.3 




1910 


90 


466 


2 


558 


16.1 


83.5 


.4 


Philippines library... 


1910 


1 


1 




2 


50.0 


50.0 




Philippine medical 


















school 


1907 
1908 


15 
39 


24 
28 


1 


40 
46 


37.5 
39.0 


60.0 
61.0 


2.5 








1909 


18 


32 


i 


51 


35.0 


63.0 


2.0 




1910 


24 


37 


2 


63 


38.1 


58.7 


3.2 



96 SPECIAL KEPOKT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 

Statement of American and Filipino employees — Continued. 
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION— Continued. 



-^ 







Amer- 
ican. 


Filipino. 


Oth- 
ers. 


Total. 


Percentage of — 


Bureau of service. 


Year, 


Amer- 
ican. 


Fili- 
pino. 


Oth- 
ers. 


University of the Phil- 
ippines 

Circulating library 


1909 
1910 
1910 


4 

13 

6 


2 
21 
12 


1 
2 


7 
36 
18 


57.0 
36.0 
33.3 


29.0 
58.0 
66.7 


14.0 
6.0 



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. 



Bureau of health. 



Quarantine service... 



Bureau of lands. 



Bureau of forestry. . . 



Weather bureau. 



Bureau of science. 



1904 


164 


169 


5 


338 


48.5 


1905 


138 


145 


8 


291 


47.4 


1906 


149 


352 


8 


509 


29.3 


1907 


92 


409 


9 


510 


18.0 


1908 


96 


509 


6 


611 


15.7 i 


1909 


138 


555 


7 


700 


19.7 


1910 


■98 


590 


7 


695 


14.1 


1903 


16 


60 


2 


78 


20.0 


1904 


18 


65 


2 


85 


21.0 i 


1905 


17 


65 


2 


84 


20.0 1 


1906 


14 


64 


2 


80 


18.0 


1907 


15 


63 


2 


80 


19.0 


1908 


12 


65 


2 


79 


15.0 


1909 


12 


64 


2 


78 


15.0 


1910 


11 


63 


3 


77 


14.0 


1904 


10 


5 




15 


67.0 


1905 


9 


5 




14 


65.0 


1906 


44 


35 


"""3" 


82 


54.0 


1907 


79 


48 


5 


132 


60.0 


1908 


90 


93 


11 


194 


46.0 


1909 


115 


164 


15 


294 


39.0 


1910 


122 


234 


10 


366 


33.0 


1903 


33 


104 


1 


138 


24.0 


1904 


36 


145 


1 


182 


19.0 


1905 


21 


115 


1 


137 


15.0 


1906 


15 


38 


1 


54 


28.0 


1907 


12 


25 


1 


38 


32.0 1 


1908 


12 


24 


1 


37 


32.0 1 


1909 


15 


22 


1 


38 


39.0 


1910 


16 


32 


1 


49 


33.0 


1903 


2 


78 


6 


86 


2.0 


1904 


5 


74 


4 


83 


6.0 


1905 


5 


79 


6 


90 


6.0 


1906 


4 


73 


6 


83 


5.0 


1907 


3 


79 


7 


89 


3.0 


1908 


2 


78 


8 


88 


2.0 


1909 


2 


80 


8 


90 


2.0 


1910 


2 


91 


6 


99 


2.0 


1903 


25 


36 




61 


41.0 


1904 


39 


55 


"i" 


95 


41.0 


1905 


38 


64 


1 


103 


37.0 


1906 


47 


80 


3 


130 


36.0 


1907 


41 


78 


4 


123 


33.0 


1908 


38 


88 


5 


131 


29.0 


1909 


46 


92 


11 


149 


31.0 


1910 


44 


115 


6 


165 


27.0 



50.0 
49.8 
69.1 
80.2 
83.3 
79.3 
84.9 
77.0 
77.0 
78.0 
80.0 
79.0 
82.0 
82.0 
82.0 
33.0 
35.0 
43.0 
36.0 
48.0 
56.0 
64.0 
75.0 
80.5 
84.0 
70.0 
65.0 
65.0 
58.0 
65.0 
91.0 
89.0 
88.0 
88.0 
89.0 
89.0 
89.0 
92.0 
59.0 
58.0 
62.0 
62.0 
64.0 
67.0 
62.0 
70.0 



LE N 'I 



o 



